Rome: In a dramatic mid-air emergency on Sunday, a Hainan Airlines Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, carrying 249 passengers and 16 crew members, was forced to make an urgent return to Rome’s Fiumicino Airport shortly after takeoff when its right engine caught fire. The aircraft, en route to Shenzhen, China, turned back after a suspected bird strike damaged the engine, triggering a fire alert.
According to Italian Coast Guard officials, the crew took immediate action to address the emergency, dumping fuel over the sea to reduce landing weight and ensure a safe return. The coast guard confirmed that the engine fire likely originated from a bird strike a relatively common but potentially severe hazard in aviation that occurs when birds collide with aircraft, often impacting the engines.
The emergency landing, managed smoothly by the crew, ensured there were no injuries among passengers or crew. Additionally, airport officials noted that no significant delays were reported to other air traffic at Fiumicino, thanks to the swift and effective response by both the crew and airport emergency services.
While aviation experts note that bird strikes are a routine concern for commercial aircraft, particularly during takeoff and landing, they are rarely as dramatic as this incident, where quick thinking prevented what could have been a severe disaster. The airline is conducting a full investigation into the incident, assessing both the engine damage and future precautions. Passengers praised the pilots and crew for their composure and professionalism during the emergency, thankful for the safe outcome in what was a truly tense situation.
