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.
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.
More to follow… For the latest news on this story keep checking back at The Sun Online
Thesun.co.uk is your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video.
Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/thesun and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheSun.