PHOENIX -- A Delta airplane made an emergency landing at Phoenix Sky Harbor after it hit a flock of birds during takeoff Monday morning, authorities said.

• Watch: No Injuries After Bird Strike


• Watch: Pilot Lands Safely

Delta Airlines Flight 1232, which was bound for Salt Lake City, took off at about 8:30 a.m., a Federal Aviation Administration spokesman confirmed.

Some passengers said they heard a thud about a minute after takeoff. The pilot declared an emergency with air traffic control and alerted his passengers.

"The captain came onto the loud speaker and said we've had a little bit of a problem folks we hit a flock of birds we've got to go back to Phoenix and make and emergency landing," said Casey Clarke, who was catching the flight to Salt Lake City.

None of the 127 passengers and five crew members was injured, authorities said.

Delta rebooked the passengers on other flights.

Inspectors are assessing the damage to the plane, which includes a shattered cockpit window and a large hole in the cockpit.

"After the fact, we're looking at the plane and then there's a hole in it," said passenger Kevin Day. "So they did well. They did really well."

He added, "It's a reality check. After you get on the ground and you look at it, you're like, 'Wow, that could have been a lot worse.'"

Sky Harbor Airport has a wildlife mitigation program to minimize the birds on and around the airport. They also work in conjunction with Tempe officials to keep the wildlife from flocking around Tempe Town Lake, which is right under the airport's flight path.

Reporter Donna Rossi contributed to this story.