SHANGHAI, March 14, 2009 (AFP) - A Japan Airlines passenger plane made an emergency landing at Shanghai's Pudong Airport Saturday but there were no reports of casualties, Chinese state media reported.

Initial findings said the Tokyo-bound plane hit a flock of birds just after take-off, the Xinhua news agency said, although the exact cause is still being investigated.

The plane, carrying 208 passengers and 14 crew, made the emergency landing shortly after take-off from Shanghai's Hongqiao Airport, Xinhua said, quoting border inspection sources.

It made the emergency landing after the crew noticed there was a problem with the engine and the aircraft began to shake slightly, Pudong border inspection authorities were quoted saying.