A FedEx cargo plane bound for Indianapolis made an emergency landing at Newark Liberty International Airport on Saturday morning after a bird strike caused one of its engines to catch fire. The incident, which occurred shortly after 8 a.m., resulted in no injuries, according to officials.
The Boeing 767-300 aircraft, operating as FedEx Flight 3609, had just departed Newark when it struck a bird, damaging its right engine and igniting a fire.
Dramatic footage shared on social media showed the plane emitting a plume of smoke as flames became visible from the engine.
Witnesses reported hearing a loud explosion, and one video captured an onlooker exclaiming, “Oh my God, oh my God,” as the plane banked sharply.
The crew promptly declared an emergency and returned to Newark, where the plane landed safely at 8:07 a.m.
The fire was contained to the engine, and no injuries were reported among the three people on board, according to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which operates the airport.
The Port Authority’s Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting unit, along with police and operations personnel, responded to the scene.
Audio recordings from LiveATC captured the crew calmly reporting the bird strike and requesting to return to the airport. “We need to shut down for a possible bird strike,” a crew member said. Moments later, another voice indicated that the engine may have detached from the wing.
In a statement, FedEx confirmed the incident, praising the crew’s professionalism.
“Our B767 crew declared an emergency and returned safely to Newark after dealing with the resulting engine damage, including an engine fire,” the company said. “We are thankful for the quick actions of our crew and first responders.” The airline did not disclose details about the cargo on board.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed the bird strike and stated that the incident damaged one of the plane’s engines. The agency said it will investigate the matter.
Bird strikes are a common hazard in aviation, with 19,603 reported in the U.S. in 2023 alone, according to an FAA report. While most strikes do not result in significant damage or injuries, they can pose serious risks.
From 1988 through 2023, bird strikes have caused 76 fatalities and destroyed 126 aircraft.
The emergency landing briefly halted air traffic at Newark Liberty International Airport as a precaution, but operations resumed shortly afterward.
The incident occurred amid heightened awareness of aviation safety following a series of recent accidents, including a midair collision in Washington, D.C., that killed 67 people and a commuter plane crash in Alaska that claimed 10 lives.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy commended the FedEx crew for their handling of the situation.
“Video from the incident shows the quick-thinking pilots returning the plane to land safely while the engine is on fire,” Duffy wrote on social media. “My thanks and admiration go out to them for their professionalism and execution under extreme pressure.”
The FAA and FedEx are continuing to assess the damage to the aircraft and investigate the circumstances of the bird strike.