Emergency Landing of FedEx Cargo Plane Due to Bird Strike and Engine Fire

A FedEx cargo aircraft was forced to make an emergency landing at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey after experiencing a bird strike that ignited a fire in one of its engines. The incident occurred on a Saturday morning, and thankfully, no injuries were reported among the three crew members aboard the flight.

According to a spokesperson from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the aircraft was en route to Indianapolis when it encountered the bird strike shortly after takeoff. The flight crew quickly recognized the seriousness of the situation and declared an emergency, returning to Newark just after 8 a.m.

Audio recordings from LiveATC captured communications from the cockpit, where a crew member requested an immediate return to the airport due to a potential bird strike. In subsequent transmissions, it was reported that they believed an engine had detached from the right wing, suggesting the strike occurred at a low altitude shortly after takeoff.

In response to the emergency landing, airport operations were briefly suspended as a precaution, resuming shortly thereafter. Emergency services were on standby and quickly addressed the situation upon the aircraft's arrival, managing to contain the fire to the engine area.

A FedEx representative expressed gratitude for the prompt action taken by the flight crew and first responders, highlighting their training and professionalism in handling the unexpected event. The spokesperson noted that the pilots executed their emergency procedures effectively, ensuring a safe outcome.

Witnesses at Newark Airport, including a pilot from another flight, reported seeing flames emanating from the FedEx plane as it taxied to a stop. The pilot shared a video on social media showing the aircraft engulfed in smoke with firefighting equipment nearby, noting that the airport was temporarily closed for about 15 to 20 minutes.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has announced that it will conduct an investigation into the incident, which resulted in damage to one of the Boeing 767's engines. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will also participate in the inquiry.

Bird strikes pose a significant risk to aviation safety, with the FAA reporting over 19,000 wildlife strikes at 713 airports across the United States in 2023. While most bird strikes do not lead to emergencies, they can occasionally result in serious incidents, such as the well-known case of US Airways Flight 1549, which landed on the Hudson River in 2009 after a bird strike disabled its engines.

As air travel continues to face scrutiny over safety measures, this incident serves as a reminder of the potential hazards that aircraft can encounter during flight. The recent spate of aviation incidents in North America has heightened public awareness and concern regarding air travel safety.