American Airlines flight experiences engine fire due to bird strike.

An American Airlines flight from Ohio to Phoenix was forced to return to the airport after a bird strike disabled one of its engines, causing a post-strike engine fire. The Boeing 737-800 had 173 passengers and crew and was carrying 30,000 pounds of fuel. No injuries were reported. Bird strikes are both commonplace and potentially catastrophic for domestic air travel, blamed for 350 deaths over the history of U.S. passenger flight, according to the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association.