Rabbit Causes Engine Fire on Denver United Flight, Shocks Passengers Mid-Air

A United Airlines flight from Denver to Edmonton faced a frightening and unexpected emergency after a rabbit reportedly got into the plane’s right engine, sparking a mid-air scare for everyone on board.

Takeoff Turns Terrifying

Flight UA2325, a Boeing 737 carrying 159 people, had just taken off from Denver International Airport on Sunday when passengers heard a loud bang and felt a heavy vibration. That’s when things took a terrifying turn.

“There was a loud bang and a significant vibration in the plane,” said passenger Scott Wolff. “We proceeded to still climb, but it was clear something was wrong.”

Fireballs and Panic in the Cabin

Video captured by passengers shows flames shooting from the engine as the plane continued its ascent. “Every few moments, there was a backfire coming from the engine, a giant fireball behind it,” Wolff recalled. “Everybody in the plane started to panic.”

Wyatt McCurry, who was watching from the ground, described the horrifying sight. “My stomach dropped, and I just thought, ‘I’m going to see a plane go down.’”

Pilot Responds, Emergency Landing Ensues

Despite the chaos, the flight crew responded quickly. After about 75 minutes in the air, the pilots safely returned the aircraft to Denver. “The aircraft returned to the gate, and we’ve lined up a new aircraft to get our customers on their way,” said a United Airlines spokesperson.

No injuries were reported, and the airline is investigating how the rabbit made it into the engine. Wildlife strikes during takeoff are not uncommon, but a rabbit incident is rare.