A Qantas flight traveling from Queenstown to Sydney was forced to reroute and make a priority landing in Christchurch on Saturday afternoon after experiencing a suspected engine issue.
The incident occurred shortly after the Boeing 737 had taken off and was climbing over New Zealand’s South Island mountain ranges.
Passenger Liza-Jayne Loch, who was returning from a business trip, described a sudden bang that shook the cabin. Shortly thereafter, a passenger seated near the left wing shouted that the engine was on fire.
Footage recorded by a passenger and shared with AAP captured a series of rapid bursts of flames appearing to issue from the aircraft's left engine.
Loch noted that the flames were clearly visible to those sitting on the left side of the plane, and she described hearing a lot of screaming as the cabin lights began to flicker.
Despite the distress, Loch recalled attempting to stay calm by remembering that modern jets are designed to fly safely on a single engine. She reported that the cabin crew remained extremely composed and worked to comfort the passengers.
According to FlightAware data, the aircraft touched down in Christchurch approximately 52 minutes after its departure from Queenstown, landing just before 5pm local time.
Although the exact cause of the incident remains under investigation, Qantas has dispatched two engineers to Christchurch to assess the aircraft, which is believed to have operated on both engines for the duration of the flight.
Emergency services were stationed on the tarmac upon the plane’s arrival, and passengers were able to disembark as usual after a brief wait. Loch mentioned that there were loud cheers when the plane successfully landed.
A Qantas spokesperson confirmed the engine issue, stating that the pilots are highly trained for such scenarios and that the airline would provide support to all affected customers.
Passengers were accommodated in a hotel near the Christchurch airport before being placed on a complimentary flight to Sydney on Sunday. While the subsequent flight arrived without further incident, Loch admitted that the experience remained distressing, noting that she was still shaken upon landing in Sydney.
Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast
