FedEx Cargo Plane Makes Emergency Landing After Bird Strike

NEWARK, N.J. — A FedEx cargo plane made an emergency landing at Newark Liberty International Airport Saturday morning after experiencing a bird strike that damaged one of its engines during takeoff. The incident occurred around 8:07 a.m. while the aircraft, identified as Flight 3609, was en route to Indianapolis, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

The crew reported engine damage and a fire shortly after takeoff, leading them to declare an emergency and return to Newark. Thankfully, there were no injuries among the three people aboard.

FedEx confirmed the incident in a statement. “Our B767 crew declared an emergency and returned safely to Newark after dealing with the resulting engine damage, including an engine fire,” said FedEx spokesperson Austin Kemker. The company expressed gratitude for the crew’s quick actions and the support from first responders.

Witnesses reported seeing flames emanating from the plane as it returned to the airport. Mike Bova, a New York resident, filmed the aircraft’s engine ablaze while driving nearby. “We saw the plane go up, it looked a little wobbly, and then suddenly a big piece seemed to fall from the sky,” Bova said. “We thought it was a passenger plane. We were just wishing for the best.”

Audio recordings from air traffic control captured the drama unfolding in the cockpit. “Tower, FedEx 3609 — right engine shut down for a possible bird strike. We need to return back to the airport,” a crew member communicated. Shortly thereafter, another voice noted they believed they saw the engine fall off the right wing.

The FAA is currently investigating the incident, as is the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). The agency stated it would analyze how the bird strike impacted the Boeing 767’s engine. Such strikes can often lead to significant disruptions. In fact, over 19,000 wildlife strikes were reported at 713 U.S. airports in 2023.

Aviation expert John Cox emphasized that modern aircraft, including the Boeing 767, are equipped to fly on one engine, should such a situation arise. “There are procedures for that, and pilots train for it, and it results in a safe landing,” he said.

The emergency landing forced a temporary halt of air traffic around Newark Liberty International Airport, but operations resumed shortly after the incident was resolved. Passengers who have been monitoring flight issues will find parallels between this incident and a series of recent aviation concerns, including other emergency landings and crashes this month.

Cox noted, however, that despite the heightened awareness surrounding aviation incidents, commercial flying remains the safest mode of transportation. “We’re going to lose 44,000 people on the roads this year, while the chances of experiencing an aircraft-related problem are exceedingly low,” he explained.