SURVEILLANCE video has caught an American Airlines 787 engine sucking up a UDL cargo container into its engine - tearing it to shreds, reports the New York Post.

The caught-on-camera saga unfolded just moments after the flight from London had touched down at Chicago O'Hare, ABC7 news reported.

The plane had stopped on the tarmac as a cargo driver hauling a train of four containers whizzed in front, according to a CCTV clip circulating on social media.

The incident unfolded just moments after the flight from London had touched down. Bits of steel are stuck in the plane's engine as American Airline crews inspect the damage.

As the cargo passed by the plane's engine, three of the containers immediately flew off and quickly tumbled towards the aircraft.

One of the containers was sucked into the engine, sending bits of debris flying into the air.

The other two were flung off further down the tarmac. No one was injured but the Federal Aviation Administration is still probing the incident.