A FedEx Plane caught fire midair before making an emergency landing at Newark Airport on Saturday morning. The fire started after a bird strike damaged one of the plane’s engines, an airport official confirmed.
Dramatic footage captured the FedEx Plane engulfed in smoke, tilting right as flames burst from its engine. Witnesses reported hearing a loud explosion, with one person in a viral video shouting, “Oh my God!” as the plane struggled in the sky.
Despite the terrifying scene, the FedEx Plane managed to land safely at 8:07 a.m. while the engine was still on fire. Officials did not report any injuries, and it remains unclear how many people were on board at the time. As a precaution, air traffic at the airport was briefly halted but later resumed normal operations.
The cargo plane, identified as a Boeing 767-300 twin-jet, was en route to Indianapolis when the incident occurred. FedEx released a statement confirming the emergency, thanking the quick response of the flight crew and first responders.
“FedEx Flight 3609 from Newark to Indianapolis experienced a bird strike during takeoff,” the company stated. “Our crew declared an emergency and returned safely to Newark. We appreciate the swift actions of our crew and first responders.”
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) verified that the flight landed safely after the bird strike and announced an investigation into the incident.
Bird strikes have become an increasing concern for aviation safety. According to an FAA report, 19,603 bird strikes were recorded in 2023, a 14% rise from 17,205 incidents in 2022. Since 1988, bird strikes have resulted in 76 fatalities and the destruction of 126 aircraft.
While the FedEx Plane incident ended without casualties, it raises concerns over bird-related aviation risks and highlights the importance of emergency preparedness in air travel.
It is notable that this is another incident within a month of mishap with plane after Delta plane crash and Philadelphia plane crash.
