Unexpected Wildlife Encounter Forces Mid-Air Flight Diversion

United airplane taking off from a runway.

A United Airlines flight from Denver to Edmonton made an emergency landing after a rabbit was sucked into the engine, causing large fireballs to shoot from the aircraft as horrified passengers and ground observers watched.

Key Takeaways

United Airlines flight UA2325 made an emergency landing in Denver after a rabbit was ingested into the right engine during takeoff, causing flames and multiple backfires.
The Boeing 737-800 was carrying 153 passengers and 6 crew members; thankfully, no injuries were reported from the incident.
Passengers described hearing a loud bang followed by significant vibrations and witnessing fireballs coming from the engine, causing panic onboard.
While over 20,000 wildlife strikes were reported in the U.S. in 2023, rabbit strikes are extremely rare, with only four reported that year.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is currently investigating the incident that occurred.

Rare Wildlife Strike Causes Engine Fire

United Airlines flight UA2325 departing Denver International Airport for Edmonton, Alberta, faced an extraordinary emergency when a rabbit was sucked into the aircraft’s right engine during takeoff. The Boeing 737-800, carrying 153 passengers and six crew members, experienced immediate engine trouble that required pilots to make a quick decision to return to the airport. According to air traffic control recordings, the pilot summed up the situation succinctly, “Rabbit through the number 2, that’ll do it.”

The incident triggered panic among passengers who witnessed alarming fireballs shooting from the damaged engine. Scott Wolff, a passenger on the flight, described the frightening experience, “There was a loud bang and a significant vibration in the plane we proceeded to still climb. Every few moments there was a backfire coming from the engine, a giant fireball behind it. Everybody in the plane then started to panic,” said Wolff.

Rabbit sucked into United Airlines’ plane engine causes ‘giant fireball,’ forces flight to make emergency landing https://t.co/D0BomzJfDu pic.twitter.com/2h9cdkWe6T

— New York Post (@nypost) April 16, 2025

Swift Crew Response Ensures Passenger Safety

Despite the alarming engine situation, the flight crew responded professionally, turning the aircraft around after approximately 75 minutes in the air. The pilots maintained control of the aircraft and safely returned to Denver International Airport where firefighters stood ready. The emergency landing proceeded without incident, and all 159 people aboard were safely escorted back to the terminal where United Airlines arranged an alternative aircraft to complete their journey to Edmonton.

The quote came from Wyatt McCurry, a ground observer who witnessed the engine fire from below. His fear was shared by many watching from the ground as flames visibly shot from beneath the aircraft. Video footage captured by witnesses both on the ground and from within the aircraft quickly spread across social media, showing the dramatic orange fireballs erupting from the engine as the plane climbed through the sky.

Wildlife Strikes: Common Threat, Uncommon Culprit

Wildlife strikes represent a persistent challenge for aviation safety, with over 20,000 incidents reported in the United States in 2023 alone. However, rabbit strikes are exceptionally rare, with the Federal Aviation Administration recording only four rabbit-related incidents in the previous year. This unusual occurrence has prompted an investigation by the FAA to examine both the circumstances of the strike and the aircraft’s response to the foreign object damage.

The incident highlights the robust safety systems built into modern commercial aircraft. Despite losing power in one engine and experiencing dramatic visible flames, the Boeing 737-800 maintained structural integrity and controllability throughout the emergency. Aviation experts note that commercial aircraft are designed to fly safely on a single engine, allowing for safe return to the departure airport in situations like this one.