A FedEx aircraft was forced to make an emergency landing shortly after taking off from Newark Airport on Saturday after its right engine caught fire, as reported by the New York Post.
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, along with FedEx, stated that a bird strike was the cause of the sudden ignition. Video footage showed the Boeing 767-3S2F returning to the runway with flames erupting from the right engine around 8 am (local time) on Saturday.
Two Port Authority fire trucks rushed to the plane as it landed and successfully extinguished the fire. The National Transportation Safety Board has launched an investigation into the incident, according to the New York Post.
Flight data revealed that the plane was compelled to land at 8:07 am (local time), merely nine minutes after takeoff. Fortunately, no injuries were reported. Air traffic was briefly halted as a precaution, but operations promptly resumed.
The extent of the damage was unclear, but the aircraft was cleared to continue its journey to Indiana at 9:30 am. A FedEx spokesperson expressed gratitude for the swift actions of the crew and first responders, stating, “FedEx Flight 3609 from Newark to Indianapolis experienced a bird strike during takeoff. Our crew declared an emergency and returned safely to Newark.”
This incident comes amidst a series of recent passenger airplane accidents that have raised concerns about air safety. On February 25, a Southwest plane narrowly avoided a collision at Chicago Midway Airport when a private jet crossed the runway. The day before, a Delta Air Lines flight bound for South Carolina had to turn back to Atlanta due to “haze” and smoke in the cabin, marking the second such incident in as many days.
Earlier in February, 67 individuals lost their lives when a Black Hawk helicopter collided midair with a commercial plane carrying young competitive figure skaters and their parents.
Published on March 2, 2025.
