A Qantas flight en route to Brisbane from Sydney was forced to make an emergency landing on Friday after experiencing a catastrophic engine failure mid-flight.
According to the airline, the Boeing 737-800’s engine failed with a loud bang, causing the aircraft to circle the airport before safely landing.
Simultaneously, a grass fire ignited along one side of the runway, though it remains unclear whether the two incidents were linked. Sydney Airport authorities confirmed that the fire has since been contained, though some flight delays are expected as a result of the incident.
Qantas has not yet disclosed the number of passengers on board at the time of the engine failure. However, the airline assured that no injuries were reported.
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“We understand this would have been a distressing experience for customers, and we will be contacting all customers this afternoon to provide support,” said Captain Richard Tobiano, Chief Pilot for Qantas. “We will also be conducting a thorough investigation into the cause of the engine issue.”
The flight had been headed for Brisbane when the engine failure occurred, and the airline is working to ensure the safety and comfort of all affected passengers. More details on the investigation and any subsequent actions will follow as they become available.
