An owl caught in the plane's engine was blamed for delaying an Honor Flight trip from the Quad Cities.
Ninety veterans and about 70 guardians were scheduled to depart Quad City International Airport for their trip to Washington, D.C. at 7 a.m. Thursday, October 3, 2013. The aircraft dedicated to the trip was brought to the Quad Cities from Minnesota.
A spokesperson for the Quad City International Airport said as the plane was traveling to the Quad Cities, an owl reportedly struck and became lodged in an engine on the plane.
The aircraft landed safely at QCIA, where the owl was removed. A technician inspected the plane and cleared it for flight.
The plane and its 160 Quad Cities Honor Flight passengers departed about three hours later than scheduled. They were expected to land in Washington at about noon Central time.
