A Hainan Airlines flight from Italy bound for China had to make an emergency landing after the right engine burst into flames at take-off, with 249 passengers on-board at the time
This is the terrifying moment a Boeing’s engine burst into flames after take-off.
The Hainan Airlines flight which took off from Fiumicino Airport in Rome, Italy soon turned around shortly after a fire broke out on the aircraft. The flight had been headed for Shenzhen, China but was stopped short into its flight by a blown engine. Italian Coast Guard officials say the plane struck a bird while in flight, subsequently threatening the safety of the aircraft and its 249 passengers and 16 crew members.
Bird strikes are common and can prove dangerous to aircraft should they hit the engine. Thankfully the Boeing turned back and landed safely after dumping fuel over the sea. Though the plane landed back at Fiumicino Airport there were no reports of delays tog air traffic, an Italian airport official said. Italian sources suggest the plane will now undergo checks to establish what happened and, per the Express, to see whether severe damage was caused to the aircraft. Flames could be seen on the right side of the engine while the plane was airborne.
The Shenzhen-bound Dreamliner 787-9 took off at 9.55am local time and landed safely after the incident. Incidents involving planes and birds are not uncommon, with The Mirror reporting just last year an accident involving a pilot who was left covered in blood when a plane crashed through his windscreen.
Ariel Valiente shared footage of the moment the bird smashed through while piloting the aircraft in Ecuador as he tried to keep his cool despite it obscuring his vision. He was left covered in blood and feathers, as the huge bird – thought to have an Andean Condor which are among the largest in the sky – likely died almost instantly.
He had been trailing over Vinces in the Los Rios province when the giant bird of prey careered straight through the glass and into him, dying on his head. Condors can measure up to 10ft across in wingspan with adults weighing as much as 15kg, meaning it was no small feat for Mr Valiente as he continued to command the flight unfazed.
Despite the blood on the back of the plane and gore stuck in the pilot’s eye, Ariel looked surprisingly calm about his experience and even shared a selfie revealing his smeared face. His uniform was also covered with bits of bird in footage taken while flying the plane during a training exercise.