A United Airlines flight bound for Edmonton was forced to make an emergency landing on April 13 after a rabbit was sucked into one of the plane’s engines during takeoff from Denver International Airport.
Flight 2325, a Boeing 737-800 carrying 153 passengers and six crew members, took off shortly after 7 p.m. but turned back less than 90 minutes later. According to audio published by LiveATC.net, the flight crew reported repeated bursts of flame coming from the aircraft’s right engine and declared an emergency.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed the plane returned to Denver after the crew reported striking an animal. ABC News later reported the animal was identified as a rabbit. The incident occurred during the aircraft’s takeoff roll.
The aircraft landed safely at 8:20 p.m., and no injuries were reported. United Airlines stated the flight was returned to address a possible wildlife strike. A replacement aircraft was dispatched, departing Denver at approximately 10:10 p.m. and arriving in Edmonton around 1 a.m. on April 14, according to data from FlightAware.
The FAA has launched an investigation. The agency noted a long-term rise in wildlife strikes, citing over 291,000 incidents between 1990 and 2023. In 2023 alone, there were 19,400 wildlife strikes across 713 U.S. airports. Rabbit strikes remain uncommon, with 75 incidents reported between 1992 and 2024.
Wildlife strikes are attributed to several factors, including growing animal populations near airports, an increase in air traffic, and quieter aircraft designs. The FAA continues to work with airports to mitigate these risks through habitat management and monitoring programs.
