Miami-bound flight lands safely despite shattering nose on giant bird

ABC News via Twitter

The unlucky bird.

When American Airlines Flight 1498 landed at Miami International Airport it carried an unexpected passenger - a bird that smashed through the plane's nose and remained lodged in the fuselage.

The bird hit the plane, an Airbus A319, at about 11 a.m., according to ABC News.

The plane had likely begun its descent at that point, as it landed in Miami at 11:25 a.m.

Though bird strikes commonly take place during commercial flights, the fact that the bird smashed the plane but remained intact makes this strike remarkable.

"It is true that we deal with bird strikes, that does happen, but never like this," an employee told ABC.

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