WELLINGTON, NOV 8 – An engine failure on a passenger plane departing from Sydney, Australia today caused the plane to turn around before landing safely, Qantas said.
At the same time, a grass fire broke out along one side of the runway, according to a Sydney Airport statement. It is not known if the two incidents are related. The fire has been brought under control, but flight delays are expected.
Qantas did not say how many passengers were on board the twin-engine Boeing 737-800 bound for Brisbane when the engine failed with a loud bang. No injuries were reported.
“We understand this must be a stressful experience for customers and we will be contacting all customers this afternoon to provide support,” Qantas Chief Pilot Captain Richard Tobiano said in a statement.
“We will also conduct an investigation into the cause of this engine problem.”
Sydney Airport said the main runway was still operating. A grass fire broke out along the side of the parallel runway which is being inspected before it can be used again, the airport said in a statement.
It noted that delays are expected and advised travelers to check the status of their flights with the airline.
Mark Willacy, a journalist from Australian Broadcasting Corptold the media that an off-duty pilot who was a passenger on the plane assisted the Qantas pilot during the emergency landing.
A flight tracking website showed the plane had been in the air for about 20 minutes, flying in circles over the airport. – AP
