FedEx Cargo Plane Makes Emergency Landing After Bird Strike in New Jersey

Newark, New Jersey, USA 🇺🇸 – Mar/01/2025 – 08:00 AM

A FedEx cargo plane was forced to make an emergency landing at Newark Liberty International Airport on Saturday morning after a bird strike ignited an engine fire visible in the sky.

According to Lenis Valens, spokesperson for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the fire was contained to the engine, and no injuries were reported.

LiveATC audio recordings captured a crew member calmly stating the need to “shut down for a possible bird strike” and return to the airport. Another voice later noted that they believed the plane’s right-wing engine had detached mid-air. The incident occurred when the aircraft was only a few hundred feet off the ground.

Air traffic was briefly halted as a precaution, but normal operations resumed shortly after. Three people were on board the aircraft, all of whom disembarked safely.