This is the horrific moment a massive Boeing 747-8 plane caught fire in mid-air shortly after takeoff from Miami International Airport.
Footage circulated on social media showing sparks shooting from the tail of the Atlas Air jet after it suffered engine failure on Thursday evening.
The person filming can be heard cursing in shock as flames repeatedly lit up the night sky.
Flightaware data shows the $400 million-plus cargo plane took off from Miami Airport at 10:32 p.m. and the pilot had to make an emergency landing just minutes later at 10:46 p.m.
A Miami-area resident captured the shocking video showing flames flying through the sky after the plane left the runway
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue responded and no injuries were reported, Miami International Airport said in a separate statement
Atlas Air said in a statement that it returned to the airport safely and no injuries were reported.
“The crew followed all standard procedures and returned to MIA safely,” the company said in a statement.
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue responded and no injuries were reported, Miami International Airport said in a separate statement.
Later that evening, it continued its scheduled journey to San Juan, Puerto Rico.
The Miami-area Instagram user who posted the video showing the burning plane said she contacted the Miami Dade County emergency room shortly after noticing the unfolding disaster.
Officials thanked her for reaching out and assured her that the plane returned to Miami Airport with no reported injuries.
According to Flightaware data, the plane flew from Puerto Rico to Bogota, Colombia, without incident in the early hours of Friday morning.
has reached out to Atlas Air for further information on Thursday's incident.
This aviation incident is the latest involving troubled aircraft maker Boeing.
Alaska Flight 1282 took off from Portland shortly after 5 p.m. on Friday when a window shattered at 16,000 feet and federal investigators are now trying to find the missing part
Earlier this week, the company announced it would increase quality inspections of its 737 Max 9 aircraft in response to the failure of an emergency exit door panel on an Alaska Airlines flight.
Boeing's reputation as a leading American aircraft maker has been tarnished by a series of manufacturing defects that led some airlines to postpone plane purchases or opt for European rival Airbus.
Federal regulators grounded the 737 Max until safety checks were carried out on the door plugs of all planes in service in the United States.
The company's shares have fallen by more than a fifth since the IPO.
The plane maker's market capitalization has fallen by nearly $30 billion to $123.74 billion since the Jan. 5 incident.
Last Sunday, two Boeing planes clipped their wings while taxiing at Chicago O'Hare International Airport.
The left wing tip of Japanese airline All Nippon Airways Flight 11 hit the tail of Delta Air Lines Flight 2122 around 6:30 p.m. local time, FAA spokesman Tony Molinaro said.
Both aircraft were of Boeing design – the All Nippon Airways flight was a Boeing 777 and the Delta Air Lines aircraft was a Boeing 717.
No injuries were reported and the Federal Aviation Administration says it is investigating the incident.
“Customers disembarked normally at the gate and the aircraft is being evaluated by Delta’s maintenance technicians,” Delta said in a statement.
In January 2023, Atlas Air received the last 747-8 from Boeing as the company abandoned the brand. The airline is the largest operator of 747 cargo aircraft
In January 2023, Atlas Air received the last 747-8 from Boeing as the company abandoned the brand. The airline is the largest operator of 747 cargo aircraft.
“We have transported everything on the 747 from race cars to racehorses, from rocket parts to satellites, electronics, overnight express shipments – and various forms of perishable goods such as fresh flowers, vegetables and fish,” said John Dietrich, president and chief executive officer, Atlas Air Worldwide said at the time.
“And we are proud to serve the U.S. military as the largest provider of its air transportation – both troops and cargo – and the 747 is the backbone of this critical work,” he added at the time.