Video of a aircraft’s engine bursting into flames after apparently hitting an animal that was on the runway.PHOTO: STORYFUL_VIRAL/TIKTOK by way of The Straits Occasions/Asia Information Community
A United Airways aircraft was pressured to make an emergency touchdown after a “rabbit strike” prompted its proper engine to burst into flames after the plane took off.
The flight had departed Denver Worldwide Airport airport on April 13 and was headed to Edmonton in Canada when air visitors management audio recorded the flight crew asking for a aircraft inspection, ABC Information reported.
The crew was advised a rabbit on the runway had apparently acquired sucked into one among its engines.
“Rabbit by the quantity two, that’ll do it, alright,” the aircraft’s pilot was heard saying.
READ: Fireplace aboard US airliner after diverted to Denver, 12 injured
“Use warning for rabbit exercise,” the management tower had warned the flight crew. “A rabbit was reported… heading in direction of your runway.”
The Boeing 737-800 plane, carrying 153 passengers and 6 crew, rotated after about 75 minutes within the air.
“Our flight from Denver to Edmonton (UA2325) returned safely to Denver to deal with a doable wildlife strike. The plane returned to the gate, and we lined up a brand new plane to get our clients on their method,” United Airways mentioned in a press release.
Video recorded from contained in the flight cabin confirmed massive flames capturing from one among its engines.
READ: Fowl strike considerations at airports raised after lethal aircraft crash
An air passenger on the airport, Mr Wyatt McCurry, captured video of the aircraft partially in flames.
“My abdomen dropped and I simply thought, ‘I’m going to see a aircraft go down’,” he mentioned.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is investigating the incident.
Plane hit wildlife at Denver Worldwide Airport greater than 800 occasions in 2024, in response to knowledge from the FAA.
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Many of the animals struck had been birds, just like the incident at South Korea’s Muan Worldwide Airport, when a Jeju Air landed on its stomach, collided with a concrete barrier and burst into flames, killing 179 of 181 folks onboard.
