United Airlines Plane Catches On Fire Mid-Air Because Of “Rabbit Strike”
via ABC News / Youtube
In a strange and scary turn of events, a United Airlines flight had to make an emergency landing after a rabbit got sucked into one of its engines, causing it to catch fire.
The incident happened on April 13, shortly after the Boeing 737-800 took off from Denver International Airport. The plane, heading to Edmonton, Canada, was in the air for about 75 minutes before turning back.
Rabbit on the Runway
Right after takeoff, air traffic control warned the crew to “use caution for rabbit activity,” saying a rabbit had been spotted heading toward the runway. Moments later, the crew asked for a plane inspection after noticing something was wrong.
“Rabbit through the number two, that’ll do it, alright,” the pilot calmly reported. According to ABC News, the crew later learned that the rabbit had indeed been sucked into the aircraft’s right engine.
Passengers Watch in Horror
There were 153 passengers and six crew members onboard. Video taken from inside the plane showed flames bursting from the engine. One passenger, Wyatt McCurry, caught the moment on camera from inside the terminal.
“My stomach dropped and I just thought, ‘I’m going to see a plane go down,’” McCurry said.
Thankfully, the pilot managed to return the plane safely to Denver.
United Airlines Responds
In a statement, United Airlines confirmed the incident and reassured passengers. “Our flight from Denver to Edmonton (UA2325) returned safely to Denver to address a possible wildlife strike. The aircraft returned to the gate, and we lined up a new aircraft to get our customers on their way.”
The FAA is now investigating the incident.
Animal Strikes on the Rise
According to FAA data, aircraft at Denver International Airport hit wildlife over 800 times in 2024 alone—most of those were birds. Still, this rabbit incident serves as a bizarre reminder of how unpredictable runway wildlife encounters can be.
Fortunately, everyone walked away safe. But it’s not every day a rabbit makes aviation headlines.
