Shocking images and videos of a FedEx aircraft bursting into flames went viral on social media Saturday morning as terrified onlookers recorded the scene.
The affected Boeing 767-300 was flying out of Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey, according to flight data from FlightAware.
After taking off at 7:58am, the flight’s right engine erupted in flames – with onlookers on the ground describing a loud boom – and the plane was forced to U-turn back to Newark for an emergency landing at 8:07am.
It’s not clear what the flight’s intended destination was.
Social media videos posted to X show the plane’s right engine on fire, both when it was in the air and when it was back on the tarmac.
A group of people on the ground recorded a video of the plane flying overhead and were heard swearing in complete disbelief.