A FedEx cargo plane, FedEx Flight 3609, made an emergency landing at Newark Liberty International Airport on Saturday morning. The flight was en route to Indianapolis from Newark when it encountered a bird strike shortly after departure at approximately 8 a.m., according to the Port Authority.
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) officials confirmed that the bird strike caused damage to one engine of the Boeing 767. The crew declared an emergency and safely returned the aircraft to Newark. No injuries were reported among the crew or ground personnel.
Several eyewitness videos obtained by News 12 showed the plane engulfed in flames as it landed. As a precautionary measure, air traffic at the airport was briefly halted but has since resumed, according to Port Authority officials. The disabled aircraft remains on the runway, with the FAA set to investigate the incident.
In a statement, FedEx praised the training and professionalism of its pilots and expressed gratitude for the swift actions of the crew and first responders.
— news from News 12 Connecticut