A passenger has recorded video of the terrifying moment flames shot out of a Lufthansa plane ’ s engine after striking a flock of birds off the coast of Lebanon . The bird strike occurred moments after the Airbus A321 took off from Beirut ’ s international airport en route to Frankfurt . The plane was carrying 144 passengers when it lost power in one of its two engines and was forced to turn around and make an emergency landing in Beirut . A passenger happened to be filming the plane 's take-off when it struck a flock of birds near Beirut . The plane was carrying 144 passengers when it lost power in one of its two engines and turned around . Footage recorded by the passenger shows bright flashes of light outside the window as birds were sucked into the left engine over the Mediterranean Sea on Tuesday morning . In slow motion , the footage shows flames shooting out of the engine as it failed , illuminating the left wing as the plane ascended shortly before 5am local time . Passengers applauded and cheered when the plane landed safely about 10 minutes later . The person who recorded the footage wrote online : ‘ Thirty-six seconds after take-off we were already above the sea , we heard the sound of two brutal explosions from the engine underneath . Passengers applauded and cheered when the Airbus A321 made an emergency landing in Beirut . Flight DLH1307 was forced to turn around and land at Beirut 's international airport after hitting a flock of birds . ‘ The aircraft started shaking and vibrating . It also smelled burning from the inside. ’ A Lufthansa spokesman told MailOnline Travel : ‘ The aircraft landed safe and all passengers left the aircraft over the normal stairs . ‘ All passengers have been offered hotel accommodation and were rebooked on other airlines and on our scheduled daily services. ’ The bird strike involving flight DLH1307 prompted a warning from Lebanese aviation authorities , who told pilots to exercise ‘ extreme caution ’ , the Daily Star reported . Daniel al-Haiby , director general of Lebanon ’ s Civil Aviation Authority , told the newspaper that bird strikes are common at this time of year due to bird migration near Beirut ’ s international airport .
Bird strike occurred moments after Lufthansa took off from Beirut . Footage shows bright flashes as flames shoot from plane 's left engine . Pilot made an emergency landing in Beirut after engine failed . Most of the 144 passengers applauded and cheered as plane landed safely . Passengers were offered hotel rooms and rebooked on other flights .