Federal officials are conducting an investigation after an Atlas Air Boeing 747 cargo plane encountered an engine failure shortly after taking off from Miami International Airport on Thursday night. The incident, which prompted the crew to follow safety procedures and return to the airport, has raised concerns regarding the safety of the aircraft.

Atlas Air stated that Flight 95 landed safely but acknowledged an "engine malfunction" had occurred. Footage captured during the flight over Miami showed sparks trailing from the plane, adding to the urgency of the situation. The airline emphasized its commitment to safety, confirming that a thorough inspection will be conducted to determine the cause of the malfunction.

The plane, carrying a total of five individuals on board, landed without further incident at around 10:30 p.m. ET while the crew reported an "engine failure," according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which is leading the investigation into the matter. The FAA incident report revealed that a post-flight inspection of the Boeing 747 revealed a hole the size of a softball above one of the engines.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has also launched an investigation into the incident and is currently gathering information to evaluate and determine the scope of the probe. Both the FAA and NTSB play vital roles in ensuring aviation safety and will work together to uncover the cause of the engine failure.

Boeing, the manufacturer of the aircraft, expressed its support for the investigation and its customer, Atlas Air. The engine responsible for the failure belongs to GE Aviation. Boeing stated that it will cooperate fully and transparently with the FAA and NTSB during their investigations.

The cargo plane was en route to Luis Muñoz Marin International Airport in Puerto Rico when the engine failure occurred, highlighting the potential dangers associated with such malfunctions during flights. It is worth noting that U.S. passenger airlines discontinued the use of the Boeing 747 in 2017, with Atlas Air repurposing the aircraft for cargo transportation.

This investigation comes at a sensitive time for Boeing, as the company has been facing scrutiny following a separate incident involving a Boeing 737 Max 9. In that incident, the door plug of the aircraft came loose during flight, leading to cabin depressurization. The FAA has since grounded all Boeing 737 Max 9 planes with a plug door until their safety can be ensured, affecting approximately 171 aircraft worldwide. The NTSB is investigating the cause of the door plug detachment.

In response to these incidents, the FAA has expanded its scrutiny of Boeing's safety operations, conducting an audit of the company's production and manufacturing processes. Boeing has committed to cooperating fully and transparently with both the FAA and NTSB throughout their investigations.

As the investigation into the Atlas Air engine failure continues, attention will turn to determining the precise cause of the malfunction and implementing appropriate safety measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.