A Hainan Airlines Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner returned to Rome’s Fiumicino Airport on Sunday after experiencing engine trouble shortly after takeoff.
Flames on the Right Side
The aircraft was en route to Shenzhen in China and it took off at 9:55 AM local time. It was forced to turn back due to a suspected bird strike affecting the right engine.
Local media video footage showed flames on the right side of the plane, but the Dreamliner landed safely back at Fiumicino without incident. Authorities are investigating the exact cause of the malfunction, according to Digi24.
Fiumicino Airport, one of Italy’s busiest, handles millions of passengers annually. In 2022, over 29.4 million passengers traveled through Fiumicino, making it one of the top international hubs in Europe.
The airport is known for its extensive safety protocols and quick emergency response, which were critical in ensuring the aircraft’s safe return.
Built With Carbon-Fiber
The aircraft involved, a Boeing 787-9, is part of Boeing's advanced Dreamliner series, known for its fuel efficiency and long-haul capabilities.
This model is built with carbon-fiber composite materials, reducing its weight and enhancing its fuel efficiency by up to 20% compared to older models.
The Dreamliner 787-9 typically seats between 242 and 290 passengers, with a range of up to 7,530 nautical miles, making it ideal for international routes like Rome to Shenzhen.
This incident followed a similar event involving a Qantas Boeing 737-800 on Friday.
That aircraft, headed from Sydney to Brisbane, encountered an engine issue shortly after takeoff and also had to make an emergency landing back at Sydney Airport. The engine failure ignited a grass fire on the airfield, which was quickly contained.
