The moment military jet is nearly engulfed in 'ball' of birds just feet from runway

This is the heart-in-the-mouth moment a military jet was almost engulfed by a flock of birds seconds before it was due to land.

Looking more like a scene from Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds, the U.S. Navy plane miraculously survived unscathed as it neared the runway at Fort Smith Regional Airport in Arkansas.

Fortunately the pilot of the E-6B, which costs more than £88million, was completely unfazed by the feathered threat and managed to land the aircraft safely.

Scary: The £88million E-6B is engulfed in a 'ball' of birds as it comes in to land at Fort Smith Regional Airport in Arkansas, U.S.

Collisions between birds and planes can cause catastrophic engine failure.

In the last 20 years, 200 people have been killed as a direct result of aircraft bird strikes.

Photographer Kaia Larsen managed to capture the dramatic images as she was driving past the airport.

Ms Larsen said: 'As I got closer they all started to fly towards the plane like a big ball.

'It was then I realised something strange was going on. I quickly pulled over and climbed up onto the roof of my car to get some pictures.

'I knew it was a special moment and I even climbed up onto the roof of the truck which was parked next to me to get a better view.

'It was quite sinister to watch but certainly a fantastic sight.'

Alarm: The flock of birds had been circling around the airport, but suddenly grouped together in a ball and flew right at the aircraft

Spooked? It is unclear what caused the birds to fly towards the aircraft, but collisions with the engines could have caused catastrophic damage

Last year a U.S. Airways Airbus struck a flock of birds just 10 minutes after takeoff, causing both engines to fail.

The cool-headed pilot famously carried out an emergency landing on the Hudson River saving all 150 passengers on board.