United Airlines Flight Returns Following Wildlife Encounter

A United Airlines aircraft experiencing an emergency landing after a wildlife strike during takeoff.

News Summary

A United Airlines Boeing 737-800 en route to Edmonton faced an emergency after hitting an animal during takeoff from Denver. The aircraft turned back due to fire alarms in the right engine. Fortunately, all 153 passengers and six crew members landed safely. This incident highlights the ongoing issue of wildlife strikes at major airports.

United Airlines Flight Makes Quick Turnaround After Animal Encounter

On Sunday evening, a United Airlines Boeing 737-800 was just getting ready to soar a little after 7 p.m. when things took an unexpected twist. Designated as Flight United 2325, this spirited aircraft was off to Edmonton International Airport in Alberta, Canada, carrying a lively crowd of 153 passengers and six crew members onboard.

As the plane taxied and lifted off from Denver International Airport, an unforeseen hiccup occurred. During the takeoff phase, the aircraft struck an animal, prompting what’s known as a possible wildlife strike. Now, you might be wondering, what kind of animal? While the FAA didn’t detail the specifics, reports indicated that rabbits were actively scurrying on the runway at the time. Yes, you read that right—rabbits!

Warning Signs

Air traffic control was on top of things, having informed the pilots about potential wildlife activity, specifically highlighting the “rabbit activity.” However, as the plane began its ascent, the pilot reported a troubling situation: they believed the right engine was in trouble. Now, that’s never a good sign when you’re thousands of feet off the ground.

And Then It Happened

Witnesses who experienced the flight had quite the story to tell. They reported seeing flames shooting from the right engine—some of them described it as fireballs. At that moment, an emergency was declared, sending the aircraft into a swift circle back to Denver International Airport to safely land.

Emergency Response in Action

How Passengers Felt

loud bang followed by vibrations throughout the cabin, making for a tense atmosphere. However, many still managed to whip out their phones to capture the extraordinary moment. Some posted videos showing an orange glow from the engine—definitely not the kind of in-flight entertainment they had in mind!