NEWARK, New Jersey – A FedEx cargo plane had to make an emergency landing at Newark Liberty International Airport early on Saturday morning, as confirmed by the Port Authority.
The incident occurred shortly after 8 a.m. when FedEx Flight 3609, bound for Indianapolis, struck a bird upon departure, causing damage to one of its engines on the Boeing 767. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has stated that they will be conducting an investigation into the matter.
As a result, the flight crew declared an emergency and successfully returned the aircraft to Newark, as reported by FedEx. Videos from witnesses in Elizabeth displayed the plane engulfed in flames, although fortunately, there were no injuries reported.
For precautionary measures, air traffic at the airport was briefly halted; however, operations have since resumed following the incident, according to Port Authority officials. The FAA has mentioned that the disabled plane remains on the runway.
In response to the emergency landing, FedEx released a statement commending the skill and professionalism exhibited by their pilots throughout the incident. They expressed gratitude to the crew and first responders for their prompt actions in ensuring the safety of all individuals involved.