THIS is the terrifying moment a packed Boeing 787 had to turn back after its engine caught fire shortly after taking off from Italy.
The Hainan Airlines flight was bound for the Chinese city of Shenzhen when it had to make an emergency landing at Rome‘s Fiumicino Airport on Sunday.
Getty – ContributorA Boeing 787 Hainan Airlines flight had to make an emergency landing in Rome[/caption]
Footage showed the plane landing back at Fiumicino Airport after its right engine caught fire
The plane was packed with 249 passengers and 16 crew members when the right engine went up in flames after takeoff.
The aircraft was apparently struck by a bird, the Italian Coast Guard said in a statement.
Bird strikes are common and can be a significant threat to aircraft safety.
But the Boeing plane turned back and landed safely after dumping fuel over the sea.
There were no delays to air traffic at Fiumicino, an Italian airport official said.
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