In an unusual and alarming incident, a United Airlines flight (UA 2325) was forced to make an emergency landing shortly after takeoff from Denver International Airport when a rabbit reportedly entered the engine, causing it to catch fire.
According to American media reports and recordings from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Air Traffic Control, the aircraft was en route to Edmonton when flames were seen erupting from one of its engines shortly after departure.
What Happened?
Before takeoff, the rabbit is believed to have crawled into engine number 2 while the aircraft was still on the runway. During ascent, the engine malfunctioned and caught fire, prompting the flight crew to immediately contact air traffic control.
In a chilling exchange aired by the New York Post, air traffic control says:
“United 2325, it looks like something hit your engine — it’s on fire.”
A crew member replies:
“We believe we’ve lost one engine.”
And the pilot adds:
“It was a rabbit — hit engine number 2. That’s what caused it.”
Passenger Experience
One passenger described hearing a loud bang at takeoff, followed by unusual noises from the engine. Moments later, passengers saw smoke and a fireball emerging from the side of the plane, triggering panic onboard.
“There was a loud boom, then we saw flames. People started freaking out,” the passenger told reporters.
Safe Landing
The aircraft, carrying 153 passengers and 6 crew members, safely returned to Denver, and no injuries were reported. Emergency services were on standby as the plane touched down.
This bizarre yet serious incident has raised questions about wildlife safety protocols at airports, particularly regarding small animals like rabbits or birds that may roam runways unnoticed.
Authorities are investigating how the rabbit accessed the engine undetected and what measures can be put in place to avoid such unusual threats in the future.
