Passengers in an American Airlines flight bound for Phoenix, Arizona, had a scary moment as the plane was forced to return to the airport after being struck by a bird just after taking off on Sunday morning.

According to ABC15, the plane caught fire after the strike, with flames coming out of the engine. The American Airlines flight 1958 reportedly took off from Columbus, Ohio, and was on its way to Phoenix when it struck a bird. 

A video received by the outlet showed the moment when the fire came out of the engine after the plane hit the bird.

After the engine caught fire, the plane immediately turned around to head back to John Glenn Columbus International Airport around 8 a.m. Eastern time. 

The plane returned safely, with the passengers and crew unharmed, but the incident gave them the scare of their lives.

Following the incident, American Airlines released a statement, saying, "American Airlines flight 1958, with service from Columbus (CMH) to Phoenix (PHX), returned to CMH shortly after takeoff due to a mechanical issue. The flight landed normally and taxied safely to the gate under its own power."

It added: "The aircraft was taken out of service for maintenance and our team is working to get customers back on their way to PHX. Safety is our top priority and we thank our customers for their understanding." 

The plane reportedly struck a flock of geese shortly after taking off. The most famous example of an aircraft hitting geese was "the miracle at the Hudson" in January 2009, when a US Airways plane piloted by Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger had to do an emergency landing at the Hudson River in New York after hitting a flock of them. 

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Federal Investigation Into Phoenix Plane Engine Fire Launched

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) launched an investigation following the incident. Airport officials are now cooperating with the probe, which is being done with the National Transportation Safety Board. 

The John Glenn Columbus International Airport was shut down briefly as the plane made its emergency return. 

According to the Columbus Dispatch, Sarah McQuaide, a spokesperson for the airport, said the incident caused minor delays for other flights, but the airport was now back operating as usual. 

American Airlines Passengers Talk About Their Horrific Experience Aboard Phoenix-Bound Flight

Several passengers aboard that flight talked to reporters regarding their experience. Among them were Charles and Felicia Meadows, who were on their way to their honeymoon in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Felicia said: "Our vows were put to the test, let's just say. I'm like, there's no way. We literally just got married 48 hours ago, and this can't be like real life."

People on the ground also saw the frightening incident, with some people across the Columbus area reporting hearing strange engine sounds or seeing the fire in the plane's engine.

READ MORE: Eight Dead After Plane Crashes Into Colombia Neighborhood

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

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