A FedEx plane was compelled to execute an emergency landing at Newark Airport on Saturday morning due to an engine fire that ignited shortly after takeoff. The Boeing 767-3S2F was observed hastily returning to the runway, with flames visibly bursting from its right engine around 8 a.m. Upon touchdown, the fire had grown significantly, leading to the immediate dispatch of two airport fire trucks.
The fire was reportedly triggered by a bird strike, a conclusion supported by both the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and FedEx. FedEx Flight 3609 was in the process of flying from Newark to Indianapolis when the bird strike transpired. The crew promptly declared an emergency and safely returned to Newark.
A FedEx spokesperson expressed gratitude for the swift actions of the crew and first responders. The aircraft was compelled to land at 8:07 a.m., a mere nine minutes after takeoff, as per flight data.
The severity of the fire and the extent of the engine damage remain uncertain. However, the plane was given clearance to continue its journey to Indiana at 9:30 a.m., according to Flight Aware. Thankfully, no injuries were reported in the incident. Air traffic was briefly halted as a precautionary measure but has since resumed.
This incident is the latest in a string of recent passenger airplane accidents that have raised concerns about air safety. Earlier in the week, a Southwest plane narrowly avoided a disastrous collision at Chicago Midway Airport when a private jet crossed the runway. In a similar incident, a Delta Air Lines flight bound for South Carolina had to return to Atlanta on Monday morning when smoke filled the cabin, marking the second such incident in two days.
These incidents have heightened focus on airplane safety following last month’s tragic mid-air collision over the Potomac River between a Black Hawk helicopter and a commercial plane, which resulted in the death of all 67 people on board, including young competitive figure skaters and their parents.