A Delta Airlines plane, like the one pictured above, on its way to Atlanta, Ga. was forced to turn back to Detroit, Mich. after a small bird was discovered in the cockpit. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo

Dec. 31 (UPI) -- A flight from Michigan to Georgia was forced to turn back on Saturday after a bird entered the plane, Delta officials said.

Shortly after Flight 1943 to Atlanta took off from Detroit Metro Airport pilots noticed a small bird had made its way into the flight deck.


Officials determined it had entered the plane during boarding and flown into the cockpit.

The bird, which the captain believed was a hummingbird, was so small staff was unable to find it after more than an hour of searching, prompting the captain to turn the plane around.

"Out of an abundance of caution, the captain made the decision to return to Detroit to avoid a potential distraction during flight," Delta said.

The plane landed back in Detroit without incident and the bird was "safely removed and set free," the airline said.

The plane resumed its flight to Atlanta and landed safely after the bird was removed