A FedEx cargo plane was forced to make an emergency landing at Newark Liberty International Airport on Saturday morning after a bird strike caused an engine fire.
According to an AP report, citing the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the Boeing 767 was just a few hundred feet off the ground when the crew reported a possible bird strike and shut down the affected engine. The plane, which was headed to Indianapolis, safely returned to Newark shortly after 8 a.m. All three people on board were unharmed.
Video from the scene showed flames coming from the side of the aircraft as it slowed on the runway, with emergency crews nearby. The fire was contained to the engine, and the airport briefly paused operations as a precaution.
“The training, expertise, and professionalism demonstrated by our FedEx pilots was exemplary,” said FedEx spokesperson Austin Kemker, who praised both the crew and first responders.
The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board have launched investigations into the incident.
Bird strikes, while common, rarely result in serious damage. However, officials noted an increase in such events, with more than 19,000 wildlife strikes reported at U.S. airports in 2023.
