A PENARTH man has described the moment the plane he was travelling on had to make an emergency u-turn after it struck a bird.

Passenger Tom Barrance, 60, a filmmaker, was on his way to Paris for a training course when the incident happened just minutes after take off on Thursday (September 21).

A witness said the plane suffered "a jolt" and a "smell of burning" passed through the cabin.

The Flybe plane was going from Cardiff to Charles de Gaulle airport but had to return for emergency engine checks.

The budget airline plane had more than 150 passengers on board and took off at 9.25am and should have landed at Charles de Gaulle Airport an hour and 20 minutes later.

Mr Barrance said: "We hit a bird shortly after taking off from Cardiff and had to return.

"There was a bit of a jolt and a smell of bird - it smelled like burning.

"The captain came on the tannoy and said 'you may have noticed we have hit a bird - that's what the smell in the cabin is. 'We have to return to Cardiff. The engine seems to be fine but because of regulations we have to go back.'"

The aircraft ended up circling over south Wales before it was given permission to return to land at Cardiff Airport.

A spokeswoman for Cardiff Airport said it was matter for Flybe.

A spokesman for Flybe said: "Flybe can confirm that the above flight returned from airborne this morning as a precaution following a bird strike en route between Cardiff and Paris Charles de Gaulle airport.

"The aircraft landed safely without further incident and, as is common practice in such situations, the airport put its emergency vehicles on standby.

"Flybe would like to apologise for any inconvenience experienced however the safety of its passengers and crew is the airline's number one priority at all times."