Passengers Report Seeing Flames and Loud Noises
 |
| File Photo |
A United Airlines flight from Denver to Edmonton was forced to make an emergency landing after a fire broke out in one of its engines—and the surprising cause was a rabbit getting trapped in the aircraft's turbine.
The incident occurred on Sunday when the plane, carrying 159 passengers, ran into trouble shortly after takeoff. Passengers reported seeing flames shooting from the right engine and hearing loud explosions, causing panic inside the cabin.
"Every few seconds, there was a loud bang from the engine, followed by a huge fireball. Everyone was terrified," said passenger Wyatt McCrea.
According to local media ABC7, the incident was the result of a "wildlife strike," meaning an animal collided with the aircraft, leading to engine failure. Eyewitnesses claimed that a rabbit was sucked into the turbine, sparking the fire.
The plane returned to the airport about 75 minutes later and made a safe landing. Fortunately, no passengers were injured. A United Airlines spokesperson confirmed that an alternate aircraft was arranged to transport the passengers.