Airliner Loses Engine Power

A Mexicana airliner returned safely to Mineta San Jose International Airport this morning on one engine after the other engine was damaged when it struck a bird.

The plane, with 154 people aboard, landed at 10:10 a.m. as fire crews and other emergency vehicles stood by.

''It landed safely, so I'm feeling better,'' airport spokesman Rich Dressler said.

The plane, a Boeing 757, taxied to Gate 10 in Terminal C, where airline officials were inspecting it. No decision had been made by 10:40 a.m. about what to do with the passengers, who remained on the plane.

Mexicana Flight 953 took off for its daily non-stop flight to Guadalajara at 9:45 a.m. ''Just a few minutes out, the aircraft experienced a bird strike on the left engine, which was shut down,'' Dressler said.

The pilot did a U-turn and headed back to San Jose, where it landed on runway 30L under the power of the right engine.