Chicago-Bound Jet Carrying 131 Passengers POSTED: 12:16 p.m. PDT September 23, 2002 UPDATED: 1:31 p.m. PDT September 23, 2002 SAN DIEGO -- A Chicago-bound American Airlines MD-80 jetliner landed safely in Los Angeles after striking a flock of birds on takeoff from San Diego Monday. Flight 1450, carrying 131 passengers and five crew members, touched down at about 12:30 p.m. The jet hit the birds as it took off from Lindbergh Field at 10:04 a.m, according to airport officials. The pilot did not know of any damage to the plane, but chose to head for Los Angeles rather than continue on to Chicago. Nobody on the airplane was injured. The pilot decided to go to LAX because it has better emergency facilities than Lindbergh Field, including an 11,000-foot runway.