The FedEx Boeing 767 cargo plane made an emergency landing at Newar Liberty International Airport on Saturday after a bird strike caused an engine fire during takeoff, officials said.
The plane headed for Memphis declared a state of emergency shortly after departure and returned to the airport.
No injuries have been reported, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
“Our B767 crew declared a state of emergency and returned safely to Newark (later) to deal with the resulting engine damage, including engine fire,” FedEx praised the pilot’s professionalism in a statement.
The fire was included in the engine and crews followed standard emergency procedures, a port authorities spokesperson said.
The National Transportation Safety Board has begun investigating the incident.
The aviation industry has recently faced several important accidents that have raised concerns about the safety of air travel.
One notable incident was related to Delta Line Flight 4819 crashing in Toronto, Canada, which injured 18 passengers.
In response, Delta provided $30,000 in compensation to each passenger. This is a move that advises legal experts to accept the right to further claims without waived.
Another tragic event was the crash of Jeju Airlines 2216 at Muang International Airport in Korea.
The aircraft was attacked by birds during its approach, leading to malfunctioning of the hydraulic system that controlled the landing gear.
Despite the pilot’s efforts to make an emergency landing, the plane crashed, killing 174 lives.
Research has revealed that Muang Airport has the highest bird attack rate among regional airports in South Korea, highlighting the need for improved wildlife management around the airfield.
In the US, a series of accidents marked the 15th consecutive year of aviation safety. Aerial collisions between the passenger plane and the US Army Black Hawk helicopter resulted in 67 deaths.
Experts attribute these incidents to factors such as a shortage of air traffic controllers, a significant decline in pilots due to retirements and pandemic-related changes, and an increase in demand for air travel that stresses the system.