A United Airlines flight heading from Denver to Edmonton faced an unusual emergency when a rabbit on the runway was sucked into one of the plane’s engines, causing it to catch fire just after takeoff.
The incident took place on Sunday, April 13, at Denver International Airport and forced the aircraft to turn back shortly after departing.
The Boeing 737-800, carrying 153 passengers and six crew members, experienced a loud bang and severe vibration as it climbed into the sky. Witnesses from the ground and inside the plane saw flames shooting from the engine. One passenger said there were repeated bursts of fire and described seeing a large fireball from his window.
While the engine trouble caused alarm onboard, the pilots kept control and the plane stayed airborne for about 75 minutes. During that time, the crew worked to assess the situation and manage a safe return. Audio from the cockpit captured the crew noting that the plane’s landing gear may have been affected, adding to the challenge of the emergency.
Eventually, the plane landed safely back in Denver, where emergency crews met the aircraft on the tarmac. No injuries were reported, and United Airlines arranged for a different plane to continue the flight to Canada.
The Federal Aviation Administration has launched an investigation into the incident. According to FAA records, animal strikes are a known risk at airports, with over 20,000 reported in the US last year alone. Most involve birds, but only four rabbit strikes have been logged in 2024 so far.
This unusual event joins a list of rare but serious animal-related aviation incidents. While airports have wildlife control measures in place, smaller animals like rabbits can sometimes slip through, leading to unexpected consequences.