Video: Hainan Airlines plane caught fire in mid-air, returned to Rome

A Hainan Airlines flight that took off from Fiumicino Airport in Rome, Italy was forced to turn back shortly after takeoff due to a fire on board the plane. A plane bound for Shenzhen, China faced trouble when its engine malfunctioned due to a bird strike. Italian coast guard officials said the bird strike posed a threat to the plane’s 249 passengers and 16 crew members.

Although bird strikes are relatively common, they can be dangerous, especially if they impact an engine. Fortunately, the Boeing 787 Dreamliner returned safely to Fiumicino after dumping fuel over the sea. According to an Italian airport official, despite the emergency landing, there were no delays to air traffic. Italian sources indicated that the plane would be thoroughly examined to assess the extent of the damage, as flames were visible on the right engine while the plane was in the air.

The Shenzhen-bound Dreamliner 787-9 took off at 9:55 a.m. local time and managed to land safely after the incident. Bird strikes from aircraft are not rare; Last year, The Mirror reported a similar case where a pilot was left drenched in blood after a bird’s windscreen broke in mid-flight.

Watch the video here:

The airline also released a statement on the issue and explained the cause of the accident. “On November 10, 2024, Hainan Airlines flight HU438 (Rome-Shenzhen) suffered a bird strike on the right engine during takeoff. To ensure safety, the crew immediately returned to the airport in accordance with procedures “

“The flight landed safely at Rome’s Fiumicino Airport at 11:06 a.m. local time (18:06 Beijing time) and all passengers disembarked in an orderly manner,” the airline said. Hainan Airlines will ensure appropriate follow-up assistance to passengers. Will do.” Written on X.

“We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and we really appreciate all passengers for their understanding and support,” the post reads.