PASSENGERS onboard a flight to Kosovo had a lucky escape when the plane was hit by more than 200 birds on takeoff.

The flock of starlings were sucked into the right engine as the Germania Airlines jet took off from Dusseldorf Airport with 80 on board.

Others dented the fuselage but thankfully did not pierce it. Their splattered remains could be seen on the plane later.

Once airborne, the pilot reported engine damage and circled for almost 45 minutes before landing safely.

A similar bird strike brought down an Airbus in the Hudson in New York in January this year.

The pilot managed a heroic emergency landing and all 155 on board survived.

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