NEWARK, N.J. (AP) – A FedEx cargo plane was forced to make an emergency landing at Newark Liberty International Airport on Saturday morning due to a bird strike that resulted in an engine fire. The incident occurred shortly after 8 a.m., and the smoke from the engine fire was visible in the sky.
According to Lenis Valens, a spokesperson for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, there were no reported injuries among the crew or any ground staff. The fire was successfully contained to the engine of the Boeing 767. Audio recorded by LiveATC revealed that ground controllers were notified about the bird strike, prompting the crew to declare an emergency and return to the airport immediately.
Moments after the initial call, additional audio indicated a more severe concern, with a person mentioning that they believed the engine had detached from the right wing of the aircraft. The aircraft was reportedly only a few hundred feet off the ground when the bird strike occurred. Following the emergency landing, air traffic at Newark was temporarily halted as a precautionary measure but quickly resumed operations shortly thereafter.
The FedEx cargo plane was en route to Indianapolis at the time of the incident. Austin Kemker, a spokesperson for FedEx, expressed gratitude for the swift actions taken by the crew and the first responders who addressed the situation. “Our crew declared an emergency and returned safely to Newark. We are thankful for the quick actions of our crew and first responders,” said Kemker.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced it will be conducting an investigation into the incident. A statement from the FAA confirmed that the bird strike caused damage to one of the plane's engines, highlighting the inherent dangers posed by wildlife in close proximity to active airports.
This emergency landing coincides with a period of heightened scrutiny and concern surrounding aviation safety, especially following a series of serious aviation disasters in North America over the past month. Among these incidents was the tragic crash of a commuter plane in Alaska on February 6, 2025, which resulted in the loss of all 10 passengers on board. Additionally, a midair collision between an Army helicopter and an American Airlines flight occurred on January 26, resulting in the deaths of all 67 individuals aboard both aircraft.
As investigations continue into the recent aviation accidents, this bird strike incident at Newark underscores the importance of aviation safety measures and the need for vigilance in protecting both aircraft and passengers from potential hazards during flights.
