A United Airlines flight had to return to Denver after a rabbit got sucked into an engine while the plane was taking off, causing a fire.

United Airlines Flight 2325 took off from Denver International Airport for Canada’s Edmonton International Airport at 7:21 p.m. Sunday, according to FlightAware, but circled and landed back in Denver a half hour later.

The crew reported striking an animal, the Federal Aviation Administration said, and LiveATC.net audio revealed it was a rabbit.

“Use caution for rabbit activity. A rabbit was reported … heading toward your runway,” the Denver control tower said, according to CNN, citing LiveATC.net.

One of the pilots also told air traffic controllers, “Rabbit through the number 2, that’ll do it,” according to LiveATC.net, cited by ABC’s “Good Morning America.”

The aircraft had six crew members and 153 passengers, some of whom saw the fire.

“There was a loud bang, and a significant vibration in the plane. Every few moments there was a backfire coming from the engine, a giant fireball behind it. Everyone in the plane then started to panic,” passenger Scott Wolff told “Good Morning America” on Wednesday.

Passengers ultimately reached Edmonton on a new plane.

“The aircraft returned to the gate, and we lined up a new aircraft to get our customers on their way,” United Airlines told the Daily Mail.

Hundreds of animal strikes were reported at the Denver airport in 2024, though most involved birds, according to the FAA’s Wildlife Strike Database.

• Brad Matthews can be reached at bmatthews@washingtontimes.com.