United Airlines has encountered another incident, this time involving an unexpected culprit—a small rabbit. On April 13, United Flight 2325, carrying 159 passengers, was scheduled to depart from Denver International Airport to Edmonton, Canada. Shortly after takeoff, the plane's right engine emitted a loud explosion sound, followed by visible flames and severe vibrations. Both crew members and passengers were alarmed by the sudden event.
The Boeing 737-800 aircraft made an emergency landing back at Denver Airport at approximately 8:05 p.m. local time. Fortunately, no injuries were reported. Passengers were subsequently transferred to another flight to continue their journey to Edmonton.
A passenger onboard recalled hearing a "loud bang" and experiencing intense shaking, yet the plane continued to climb. He described how every few minutes, the engine would emit fireballs and backfires, causing widespread panic among those on board.
Investigations by relevant authorities revealed that the engine fire was caused by a rabbit being sucked into the turbine engine during takeoff. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is currently investigating the incident to clarify all details.
Chaos on a United Airlines flight heading to Edmonton after one of the engines caught on fire due to what the airline called a ‘wildlife strike.’
— YEGWAVE (@yegwave) April 16, 2025
After the crew declared a mayday and shut down the right engine, the plane made an emergency landing in Denver, its original point of… pic.twitter.com/NDC8dGdkD1
Wildlife strikes on aircraft are not uncommon in the United States, with over 20,000 incidents reported in 2024 alone. Most of these involve birds, but only four cases involved rabbits, including this one at Denver International Airport.
🔥✈️ Engine Fire After Takeoff: Rabbit Strike
— AirNav Radar (@AirNavRadar) April 17, 2025
A United Airlines flight, #UA2325, departing from Denver International Airport, experienced an engine fire shortly after takeoff and returned to Denver. The suspected cause is highly unusual: a rabbit strike. 🐇
🛫 Flight: UA2325
📍… pic.twitter.com/YUOJGWZc9W
United Airlines confirmed the incident as a "possible wildlife strike" and assured that safety protocols were followed to ensure the well-being of all passengers and crew.
This rare event highlights the unexpected challenges wildlife can pose to aviation safety, even from small animals like rabbits.
