United jet safely stops takeoff at San Jose airport after bird strike Heather Knight, Chronicle Staff Writer February 16, 2009 SAN JOSE -- The pilot of a United Airlines jetliner preparing for take-off this morning out of Mineta San Jose International Airport stopped the plane and shut off one of its engines after striking a flock of seagulls. United jet safely stops takeoff at San Jose airport after bird strike 02.16.09 Flight No. 1220 - carrying 97 passengers and bound for Denver - was rolling down the runway at 120 knots, or 138.2 miles per hour, when it hit the...