Date: 201201
Local time of day: 0601-1200
Location: ZZZ.Airport, US
Weather elements / visibility: Cloudy
Light: Daylight
Aircraft: B737-800
Operator: Air Carrier
Operating under: Part 121
Flight plan: IFR
Mission: Passenger
Flight phase: Takeoff / Launch
ATC / advisory: Tower ZZZ
Aircraft component: Turbine Engine
Component problem: Malfunctioning
Reporter organization: Air Carrier
Reporter function: Flight Attendant In Charge
Anomaly: Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Other / Unknown
Detector: Person Flight Attendant
When detected: In-flight
Contributing factors: Aircraft
Primary problem: Aircraft

Narrative: Right after takeoff; we feel/hear a big bang/thunk; slight lurch to aircraft right. Again; bang/lurch to the right; then again bang/lurch to right. We know something is wrong - are we crashing? To me it sounded like the nose gear had trouble retracting - the bang sound was so close in proximity to my jumpseat. Silence on plane. Intro video starts; I reach up and stop it. I have my serving tray with paperwork on my lap. I reach up and immediately stow. We level out. I get up to double check all in galley is secure/extra secure in case we have to evacuate. A couple of cart doors popped open. I double checked that all cart brakes were secure and set. I take my seat; the call light in coach goes off. The Number 3; says; should I get up and get it? I say no; stay in your jumpseat where it is safe. Let the back flight attendants get it - they are closer - besides; I just saw the movie Flight and the Flight Attendant gets killed helping a passenger. Immediately a second call light goes off. Number 4 Flight Attendant gets it; now a third call light goes off - all in same area. I ask the Number 3 where are the call lights going off. Are they over the wing? She says yes. I say there must be a fire or something over the wing/engine area. I hear the aft flight attendants call the Captain; Number 3 picks up the handset - she tries to share it with me so I can hear too. I cannot hear all of what is said. He says he's really busy right now. We wait. (That's when I got up to check my galley was secure - what I said above.) Number 3 and I talk about evacuating. Then we remember the initial commands; but not what comes after that of the new wording. We agree if we evacuate; we will use old words that we know so that we are consistent in our commands. Somehow I know that there were flames but not how or when I got this info from the aft flight attendants. I tell Number 3 that on the handset; I did not hear the aft flight attendants tell the Captain that there was fire over the wing/engine. I thought he would already be aware of it if there was; but I should tell him just in case. I (2 dings) call. Tell him that passenger saw flames. He asked is it out? I did not know - but I knew that no more call lights went off. He said bird strike; we are diverting [and] we will land normally in five to seven minutes. That he will make an announcement to passengers on what had occurred. We call aft flight attendants and pass on this information. I make announcement to double check seat belts secure; tray tables up; luggage stowed and all electronics off. (I thought some passengers would be video-taping the incident.) We land without incident. When aircraft door is open Captain says that is exactly how we practiced it in the simulator!




Synopsis: Aircraft experienced abnormal flight characteristics immediately after takeoff.