A Hainan Airlines flight that departed from Fiumicino Airport in Rome, Italy, was forced to turn back shortly after takeoff due to a fire on board. The flight headed to Shenzhen, China, encountered trouble when a bird strike caused an engine failure. Italian Coast Guard officials reported that the bird strike posed a threat to the aircraft's 249 passengers and 16 crew members.
While bird strikes are relatively common, they can be dangerous, especially if they impact an engine. Fortunately, the Boeing 787 Dreamliner safely returned to Fiumicino after dumping fuel over the sea. Despite the emergency landing, there were no reported delays to air traffic, according to an Italian airport official. Italian sources indicate that the plane will undergo thorough checks to assess the extent of the damage, as flames were visible on the right engine while the aircraft was in the air.
The Dreamliner 787-9, bound for Shenzhen, took off at 9:55 a.m. local time and managed a safe landing following the incident. Bird strikes with aircraft are not rare; last year, The Mirror reported a similar case where a pilot was left covered in blood after a bird shattered his windscreen mid-flight.
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The airlines also issued a statement on X and explained the reason for the mishap. "On November 10th, 2024, Hainan Airlines flight HU438 (Rome-Shenzhen) encountered a bird strike on the right engine during takeoff. In order to ensure safety, the crew promptly returned to the airport according to procedures."
"The flight landed safely at Fiumicino Airport in Rome at 11:06 am local time (18:06 Beijing time), and all passengers have disembarked in an orderly manner. Hainan Airlines will ensure proper follow-up assistance for passengers," the airlines wrote on X.
"We sincerely apologize for any inconveniences caused by this and we really appreciate all passengers for their understanding and support," the post read.
