Horror moment plane forced to turn back after birds sucked into engine

This is the terrifying moment a passenger plane was forced to do a U-turn back to the airport with flames spewing from the engine after it hit a flock of geese.

This is the terrifying moment a US passenger plane was forced to do a U-turn back to the airport with flames spewing from the engine after it hit a flock of geese.

An American Airlines flight was in the air for just 40 minutes when the alarming incident unfolded, The Sun reports.

The plane was seen heading back to the airport in Ohio with flames spewing from an engine. Picture: Twitter

Chilling footage shows flames shooting into the sky from the Boeing 737 after the birds were sucked into the engine shortly after takeoff.

A worrying rumbling noise could be heard as the plane made its dramatic descent.

Flight AA1958 departed John Glenn Columbus International Airport in Ohio on Sunday at around 7.43am, headed for Phoenix, Arizona, according to flight trackers.

But travellers were back exactly where they started by 8.22am, as pilots made the frantic dash to safety.

A flock of geese were sucked into the engine of the plane. Picture: Twitter

Eyewitnesses claimed the plane had hit a flock of geese as it took off, causing flames to gush out of the engine.

Others said terrified passengers heard “wonky, pulsing noises” as the drama unfolded mid-air.

One person in Columbus, Ohio, said it sounded “as if the engines were about to give up,” according to the Daily Mail.

A passenger told WBNS that the pilot said that the geese had become trapped in the engine, triggering the fire.

Emergency crew surveyed the engine after the incident. Picture: Twitter

The flight miraculously landed back on the tarmac safely after the hellish experience, with no injuries reported.

Traumatised travellers were then put on another aircraft to complete their journey.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is leading an investigation into the incident.

The plane landed safely despite the traumatic incident. Picture: Twitter

Meanwhile the airport reassured travellers that it remained “open and operational”.

The airport is said to have only been shut down for a few minutes as the plane returned for an emergency landing.

American Airlines said in a statement: “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.

“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.”

This article originally appeared on The Sun and is republished here with permission