A Boeing’s engine was engulfed in flames shortly after take-off, in a terrifying incident that forced the plane to turn back.
The Hainan Airlines flight had just departed from Fiumicino Airport in Rome, Italy, bound for Shenzhen, China, when a fire broke out on the aircraft. Italian Coast Guard officials believe the plane hit a bird while in flight, posing a serious threat to the safety of its 249 passengers and 16 crew members.
Bird strikes are a common hazard for aircraft, particularly if they hit the engine. Fortunately, the Boeing managed to return and land safely after jettisoning fuel over the sea.
Despite the emergency landing at Fiumicino Airport, there were no reported delays to air traffic, according to an Italian airport official. It is expected that the plane will now undergo checks to determine what happened and assess any severe damage to the aircraft.
Flames were visible on the right side of the engine while the plane was in the air, reports the Mirror.
The Shenzhen-bound Dreamliner 787-9 took off at 9.55am local time and landed safely following the incident. Incidents involving planes and birds are not uncommon, with The Mirror reporting just last year about a pilot who was left covered in blood when a bird smashed through his windscreen.
Ariel Valiente shared a shocking video of the moment a huge bird, believed to be an Andean Condor, smashed through his aircraft’s windscreen while he was flying over Vinces in the Los Rios province of Ecuador. Despite the bird obscuring his vision and leaving him covered in blood and feathers, Mr Valiente managed to keep his cool.
The giant bird of prey, which can have a wingspan of up to 10ft and weigh as much as 15kg, crashed straight through the glass and into him, dying instantly on impact. Despite the gruesome scene, with blood smeared across the back of the plane and gore stuck in his eye, Ariel remained surprisingly calm.
Incredibly, he continued to pilot the aircraft unfazed, even managing to take a selfie showing his face smeared with blood. His uniform was also covered in bits of bird in footage taken during the training exercise.
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