FedEx Airbus A300 Freighter Forces Emergency Return to Norfolk After Engine Shutdown

The incident unfolded late Monday evening, February 2, 2026, when FedEx flight FX-1338, a scheduled cargo service bound for the carrier’s global "SuperHub" in Memphis (MEM), departed Norfolk’s runway 23 at approximately 9:46 PM EST. According to preliminary flight data and air traffic control recordings, the situation escalated rapidly as the twin-jet climbed through its initial departure corridor.

As the aircraft, registered as N748FD, began its initial ascent, the flight crew abruptly halted their climb. Digital flight tracking confirms the A300 levelled off at just 3,000 feet, significantly below its filed cruising altitude of 36,000 feet.

"Effectively Single Engine"

Radio transmissions from the cockpit revealed a calm but urgent response to a developing mechanical crisis. The crew initially contacted departure control to report a technical discrepancy with one of the aircraft's two Pratt & Whitney PW4158 engines.

“The crew requested to level off at 3000 feet, advising of an engine (PW4158) issue, they would need to return to Norfolk,” noted initial reports from AeroInside.

The situation grew more critical as the crew conducted their emergency checklists. Moments later, the pilots formally declared an emergency, confirming they were “effectively single engine” and required an immediate priority approach back to the airfield of departure.

Tactical Emergency Response

Norfolk International Airport’s Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF) teams were deployed to pre-set positions along the runway as FX-1338 manoeuvred for its return. Operating a wide-body freighter on a single engine while potentially heavy with fuel and cargo requires exceptional airmanship, particularly during the approach and landing phases.

The aircraft touched down safely on runway 23 at approximately 10:10 PM EST, roughly 24 minutes after its wheels first left the pavement. No injuries were reported among the flight crew, and the aircraft was able to vacate the runway under its own power or with the assistance of a tug to the FedEx cargo ramp.

Incident Summary Table

The Fleet in Focus
 

The Airbus A300-600 has long been the "workhorse" of the FedEx domestic fleet, praised for its containerised cargo capacity and reliability. However, as the carrier moves forward with its "DRIVE" modernisation initiative, older airframes like the A300 are coming under increased maintenance scrutiny.

As of midday on February 3, the aircraft remains grounded in Norfolk. Maintenance crews are expected to perform a borescope inspection of the affected PW4158 engine to determine if the shutdown was caused by an internal mechanical failure, such as a turbine blade fracture, or an external factor like a bird strike.

FedEx has not yet released a formal statement regarding the specific nature of the engine damage, but the carrier has confirmed that the cargo on board FX-1338 was successfully rerouted to Memphis on a backup aircraft early this morning to minimise service disruptions.