Picture Credits: Acroterion
Denver, USA: A United Airlines flight was forced to make an emergency landing on Sunday, April 13, after a rare wildlife strike involving a rabbit caused a fire in one of the aircraft’s engines shortly after takeoff from Denver International Airport.
Flames Erupt Mid-Air After Rabbit Enters Engine
Flight 2325, a Boeing 737-800 carrying 153 passengers and six crew members, was en route to Edmonton, Alberta, when the aircraft’s right engine began emitting flames shortly after departure. The cause was determined to be a rabbit that was reportedly sucked into the number two engine during takeoff.
LiveATC audio captured the flight crew requesting an immediate inspection for an engine fire. “Rabbit through the number 2, that’ll do it, alright,” the pilot was heard saying after confirming the source of the malfunction.
A United Airlines B737-800 departing from Denver (DEN) returned for an emergency landing after a rabbit strike during takeoff resulted in an engine fire.https://t.co/wge0Njogua
— AviationSource (@AvSourceNews) April 17, 2025
Video Credit: Yegwave via Instagram#UnitedAirlines #Denver #AvGeek pic.twitter.com/2bUQcHBmPc
Passengers Describe Panic, FAA Launches Investigation
Passengers described a terrifying scene on board. “There was a loud bang, and a significant vibration in the plane,” passenger Scott Wolff told Good Morning America. “Every few moments there was a backfire coming from the engine, a giant fireball behind it. Everyone in the plane then started to panic.” Witnesses on the ground also reported seeing the flames, with one bystander fearing the aircraft might crash.
Despite the dramatic events, the flight safely returned to Denver at approximately 8:05 p.m. The aircraft taxied back to the gate, and all passengers were transferred to a different plane to complete their journey to Edmonton, United Airlines confirmed in a statement.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has launched an investigation into the incident. According to FAA data, while wildlife strikes are relatively common in the U.S. with over 20,000 reported last year, encounters involving rabbits are extremely rare. Only four such rabbit strikes have been recorded in 2024 so far, including the one at Denver International Airport.
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