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🇦🇺 Australia /Disasters & Emergencies

Engine flames force Sydney-bound Qantas flight to divert to Christchurch

From ABC Australia · () English

Translated from English and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources Outcome reported
  • Qantas flight QF122 diverted to Christchurch after the Sydney-bound aircraft experienced what the airline called a suspected engine issue after take-off from Queenstown.
  • The airline said both engines continued operating and the plane landed safely, while passengers received accommodation and help arranging alternative flights.
  • A witness described seeing flames from the aircraft and hearing a noise that sounded like gunshots.

Flames appeared to shoot from one side of a Qantas aircraft shortly after it left New Zealand's Queenstown, forcing the Sydney-bound flight to divert to Christchurch.

One of our flights to Sydney experienced a suspected engine issue after take-off from Queenstown this afternoon and the aircraft diverted to Christchurch.

· Qantas spokespersonThe airline described the incident that forced flight QF122 to divert.

Qantas said flight QF122 experienced a suspected engine issue after take-off on Saturday afternoon. The Boeing aircraft departed the alpine resort town shortly before 3:30 p.m. and had been due to reach Sydney at 4:50 p.m.

The airline said the aircraft received clearance for a priority landing in Christchurch and landed safely. Both engines remained operating throughout the flight, and Qantas said there was no engine shutdown or failure.

Our pilots are highly trained to manage situations like this and the aircraft landed safely.

· Qantas spokespersonThe airline said the aircraft landed safely after the diversion.

Footage supplied to ABC News appeared to show flames coming from the aircraft's left engine. Liam Aspinall, who was in Queenstown with friends, said he noticed the flames from a distance. “I noticed flames appearing to come off the thing as it was approaching us from afar,” he told ABC News. “Sounded like gunshots, [it] was loud.”

I noticed flames appearing to come off the thing as it was approaching us from afar.

· Liam AspinallA witness described seeing flames from the aircraft near Queenstown.

Qantas said it was supporting passengers after what “would have been a distressing experience.” Passengers were offered accommodation and assistance with alternative flights.

Sounded like gunshots, [it] was loud.

· Liam AspinallAspinall described the noise he heard as the aircraft passed.
About this summary

Originally published by ABC Australia in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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