Unexpected Wildlife Encounter Leads to Emergency Landing

A United Airlines flight experienced a dramatic turn of events on Sunday, April 13th, when a rabbit was ingested into one of its engines shortly after takeoff. The incident, involving flight UA2325 departing from Denver International Airport en route to Edmonton, Alberta, resulted in an engine fire and an emergency return to Denver.

The Unlikely Culprit: A Rabbit on the runway

According to reports, the rabbit was present on the runway during the plane’s takeoff roll.The unfortunate animal was than sucked into the right engine of the Boeing 737-800, triggering a series of alarming events.

Passengers Describe Detonation and Visible flames

Passengers aboard the flight recounted a harrowing experience, describing a loud explosion and significant vibrations felt throughout the aircraft. One passenger, speaking to Good Morning America, noted, There was a strong detonation and a significant vibration on the plane. Video footage captured by passengers showed flames emanating from the engine, causing widespread concern and panic within the cabin.

“A rabbit in the [moteur] Number 2, it’s going to go.”

Pilot of United Airlines Flight UA2325

the pilot’s calm proclamation,as captured in audio recordings,revealed the source of the problem: A rabbit in the [moteur] number 2,it’s going to go.

Emergency Landing and Passenger Safety

Following the engine malfunction, the flight crew initiated an emergency landing procedure. After approximately 75 minutes in the air, the plane safely returned to Denver International Airport. All 153 passengers and six crew members were unharmed and afterward rebooked on another flight to Edmonton.

Animal-Aircraft Collisions: A Broader Outlook

While collisions between aircraft and animals are not uncommon, incidents involving rabbits are relatively rare. The federal Aviation administration (FAA) reports that approximately 20,000 wildlife strikes occur annually in the United States.The vast majority of these incidents involve birds, posing a significant threat to aviation safety. Such as, the infamous “Miracle on the Hudson” in 2009 was caused by a bird strike that disabled both engines of US Airways Flight 1549.

These incidents highlight the importance of wildlife management programs at airports to minimize the risk of collisions. These programs often include habitat modification, exclusion techniques, and active dispersal methods.

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