FedEx Flight Sparks Frenzy After Mid-Air Fire from Bird Strike
Hold onto your hats, folks! A FedEx Boeing 767 had a fiery brush with danger after colliding with a bird shortly after taking off from Newark Liberty International Airport, causing one of its engines to ignite like a Fourth of July firework. The crew of Flight 3609 was just getting comfy for the short hop to Indianapolis when—bam!—they faced a bird strike that looked straight out of an action movie, igniting an engine and sending smoke and flames dancing through the skies. But wait, it gets crazier: the pilots kept their cool under pressure, quickly declaring an emergency and bringing the plane back to Newark safely just ten minutes after takeoff, according to FlightAware.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) was quick to put out a statement post-landing, confirming that the engine fire was indeed due to that pesky bird. They added that an investigation will be launched into the whole shebang. Feathered friends, consider this a warning: those flight paths are off-limits! FedEx also applauded their crew’s expert handling of the situation, calling their training and professionalism “exemplary.” Talk about a reality check for anyone thinking of hopping onto a cargo flight!
This drama didn’t take place in a vacuum; it joins a lineup of aviation incidents making headlines lately. Just days before, an American Airlines flight had a close call at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport when they had to execute a go-around to avoid colliding with another departing aircraft. Safe, but not supremely thrilling, right? And earlier, a Delta flight returning to Atlanta had to double back due to reported smoke in the cockpit—yikes!
In a world where flying can feel so routine, these incidents remind us that aviation is not without its risks, and that flight crews are trained to handle just about anything that comes their way. Hats off to them for their calmness under fire—literally. So next time you’re up in the air and feeling nervous, remember, pilots are doing some serious magic in the cockpit!
Sources: Celebrity Storm and NBC News, FlightAware, FAA
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