United Airlines plane engine shoots out fire after hitting an animal on takeoff

United Airlines Flight 2325: Rabbit Strike Sparks Engine Fire, Forces Emergency Landing

April 17, 2025

In a rare and alarming incident, United Airlines Flight 2325 experienced an engine fire shortly after takeoff from Denver International Airport on April 13, 2025. The cause: a rabbit was sucked into the aircraft’s right engine, igniting flames and forcing an emergency return to the airport.

The Incident Unfolds

Flight 2325, a Boeing 737-800 en route to Edmonton, Canada, had 153 passengers and six crew members aboard. Moments after takeoff, passengers and bystanders reported loud noises, heavy vibrations, and visible fire and sparks emanating from the right engine. One passenger described seeing a “giant fireball,” leading to panic onboard.

Air traffic control communications captured the urgency of the situation:

“United 2325, it looks like you got, every once in a while, little bursts of flame coming out the right engine,” a controller noted.
“We think we lost our right motor,” a crew member responded.
Despite the alarming circumstances, the pilots managed to keep the aircraft airborne for approximately 75 minutes, initially suspecting a malfunction with the landing gear. Eventually, they safely returned to Denver, where emergency services met the aircraft. No injuries were reported.

Wildlife Strikes: A Persistent Aviation Hazard

While bird strikes are a known hazard in aviation, incidents involving mammals like rabbits are exceedingly rare. In 2023, nearly 20,000 wildlife strikes were reported in the U.S., but only four involved rabbits.

Wildlife strikes can cause significant damage to aircraft, particularly during takeoff and landing phases when planes are at lower altitudes. The force of impact depends on the animal’s weight and the speed of the aircraft. For instance, the energy of a 5kg bird moving at a relative velocity of 275 km/h is comparable to a 100kg weight dropped from a height of 15 meters.

Response and Investigation

United Airlines promptly arranged an alternative aircraft to transport the affected passengers to their destination. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has launched an investigation into the incident to determine how the rabbit accessed the runway area and to assess potential improvements in wildlife management at the airport.

Conclusion

The incident involving United Airlines Flight 2325 underscores the unpredictable challenges that wildlife can pose to aviation safety. While the quick actions of the flight crew ensured a safe outcome, it highlights the need for continued vigilance and effective wildlife management strategies at airports to mitigate such risks