Updated

Updated · CBS New York · Aug 11

American Airlines Flight With 172 Passengers Returns After Bird Strike Sparks Engine Fire

Updated

Updated · CBS New York · Aug 11

American Airlines Flight With 172 Passengers Returns After Bird Strike Sparks Engine Fire

Q: Why did the airline deny an engine fire when passengers filmed terrifying flames bursting from the Boeing 737 after a bird strike?

American Airlines likely denied there was an engine fire because the visible flames in passenger video do not, by themselves, prove a sustained fire inside the engine. In bird-strike events, flames, sparks, or brief fireballs can appear when a bird is ingested and disrupts combustion, causing loud pops, orange flashes, or fuel to ignite momentarily in the exhaust. That can look dramatic from the cabin or the ground but is not the same as an uncontrollable internal engine fire. The airline’s wording — “no indication of an engine fire” — appears to reflect what crews and maintenance teams knew at the time: the aircraft landed safely, there were no injuries, and the engine apparently remained contained long enough for the plane to return. Airlines are usually careful to distinguish between a temporary flame event, smoke, or compressor stall and a confirmed engine fire, which has a more specific technical meaning and would typically involve persistent burning or onboard fire warnings. That does not mean passengers imagined what they saw. The videos and mayday call show a serious engine-related emergency after a reported bird strike. The pilot clearly reported an engine problem, and airport personnel later found a significant number of birds on the runway. The FAA has said it will investigate, and that inquiry will determine whether the flames were caused by a brief post-strike combustion disturbance, a compressor stall, or something more severe.

3 articles · Updated · CBS New York · Aug 11

Flames shot from the left engine of an American Airlines Boeing 737 shortly after takeoff from Myrtle Beach on Monday, forcing the Charlotte-bound flight to declare an emergency and return.
Officials said the aircraft apparently struck birds during takeoff; the pilot radioed, "Mayday, mayday, mayday. We've got a engine problem here."
All 172 passengers landed safely with no injuries, the jet was removed from service for inspection, and travelers later continued to Charlotte on another plane.
About 8,300 animal strikes have been reported so far this year, FAA data show, with birds historically accounting for roughly 97% of those incidents.