FAA testing organic matter found in engine of KLM plane

A large section of an engine cowling from a KLM jetliner peeled away and fell on a beach near Los Angeles International Airport

LOS ANGELES (CNN) -- The Federal Aviation Administration said Tuesday it is testing organic matter found in the engine of a KLM plane that made an emergency landing at Los Angeles International Airport Sunday night.

The Boeing 747 was forced to land after a piece of the engine cowling , a metal covering that houses the engine, fell off during takeoff.

A KLM spokesman in Amsterdam said Monday that from the airline's initial investigation, they believed a very large bird flew into the engine.

An FAA spokesman said the matter, which could be the remains of a bird, has been sent to Washington to undergo DNA testing.

"Birds are sucked into planes all the time without doing damage," said Jerry Snyder, an FAA spokesman.

NTSB: No evidence that bird caused KLM engine mishap
August 28, 2000

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines
The Boeing Company
Federal Aviation Administration
Los Angeles International Airport

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