A Qantas passenger plane bound for Sydney has been diverted after flames appeared to be spitting from the engine mid-flight.
The airline confirmed that QF122 from Queenstown to Sydney had experienced a suspected engine issue after a video showed fire emerging out of the planeโs left engine as it took off over the mountains on New Zealandโs South Island.
Queenstown residents reported hearing loud bangs from the ground, with one witness telling Stuff, a New Zealand media outlet, they heard four or five โmassive explosionsโ as the 15-year-old Boeing 737 departed. Another said they witnessed several bursts of flame. This type of plane has a seating capacity of around 160.
Vision obtained by Nine News shows the fire erupting out of the plane as it takes off.
The plane, which was scheduled to arrive in Sydney on Saturday evening, was diverted to Christchurch where it landed safely about 5pm. A spokesperson for Christchurch International Airport said firefighters were stationed on the tarmac but said the precaution was standard practice for any inbound plane experiencing trouble.
A Qantas spokesperson said the plane experienced an engine issue and has since landed safely.
โQF122 Queenstown to Sydney experienced a suspected engine issue after take-off from Queenstown this afternoon,โ the spokesperson said.
โOur pilots are highly trained to manage situations like this and the aircraft landed safely. We know this would have been a distressing experience for passengers and will be contacting all customers to provide support.โ
More to come
Max Maddison is a state political reporter at The Sydney Morning Herald.From our partners
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