FedEx plane catches fire midair before making emergency landing

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FedEx cargo plane made an emergency landing at Newark Airport

There are no reported injuries. Air traffic was briefly halted as a precaution, but operations have since resumed.

A FedEx cargo plane made an emergency landing at Newark Airport in New Jersey Saturday morning after a bird strike caused one of its engines to catch fire, an airport official told Fox News Digital.

Dramatic video shows the plane banking right when it lets off a large plume of smoke as fire appears from its right engine. 

Eyewitnesses said that they heard a loud explosion too, while another can be heard in one video frantically yelling, “Oh my God, oh my God.”

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In another video, the FedEx cargo plane can be seen landing safely while its engine is still in flames. 

There were no reported injuries and the plane touched down at 8:07 a.m., the official said. It is unclear how many people were on board at the time. Air traffic was briefly halted as a precaution at the airport, but operations have since resumed, the official said. 

Images of the flames on spewing out from the plane’s engine.  (@mike__bova )

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The cargo plane is a Boeing 767-300 twin-jet aircraft, according to Flight Radar. 

FedEx, in a statement to Fox News Digital, said the flight was on its way to Indianapolis when the strike occurred. 

“FedEx Flight 3609 from Newark to Indianapolis experienced a bird strike during takeoff,” the statement reads. “Our B767 crew declared an emergency and returned safely to Newark atter dealing with the resulting engine damage, including an engine fire. The training, expertise, and professionalism demonstrated by our FedEx pilots was exemplary. We are thankful for the quick actions of our crew and first responders.”

The FAA confirmed the flight landed safely after striking a bird while departing the airport. The agency said it will investigate the incident.

FedEx bird strike map (Fox News)

Bird strikes are common in aviation and can prove fatal.

In 2023, 19,603 strikes were reported in the U.S., an increase of 14 percent compared to the 17,205 strikes reported in 2022, according to an FAA report. 

Bird strike-related aircraft incidents have killed 76 people and destroyed 126 aircraft from 1988 through 2023, per the report. 

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Transport Secretary Sean Duffy shared a copy of the report to X while commenting on the incident.

“Video from the incident shows the quick-thinking pilots returning the plane to land safely while the engine is on fire,” Duffy wrote. “My thanks and admiration go out to them for their professionalism and execution under extreme pressure.”

Fox News’ Emmett Jones contributed to this report. 

Michael Dorgan is a writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business.

You can send tips to michael.dorgan@fox.com and follow him on Twitter @M_Dorgan.