A Virgin Australia flight has been forced to make an emergency landing at New Zealand‘s Invercargill Airport after an engine fire.
The flight from Queenstown to Melbourne reportedly experienced engine trouble shortly after take-off on Monday night after a possible bird-strike.
Flames were seen coming from the engine as the plane climbed over the Shotover Delta and witnesses reported hearing loud bangs.
‘Virgin Australia flight VA148 departed Queenstown Airport at 5.59pm, bound for Melbourne. It experienced an issue just after take-off and has been diverted to Invercargill Airport,’ a Queenstown Airport spokeswoman said.
The plane safely landed 55 minutes after take-off.
A witness saw the Boeing 737 flying overhead.
‘It was making one hell of a pulsing/throbbing noise out of one engine then it was shooting flames out – maybe hit a bird?’ Nick Lambert said.
Flames were seen coming from the engine and witnesses reported hearing loud bangs
Another witness said: ‘Sounded like it was coming apart over our house. One engine was throwing flames and sputtering out.’
There were 67 guests and six crew on board the flight at the time.
‘Virgin Australia can now confirm that all passengers have disembarked VA148, which landed safely at New Zealand’s Invercargill Airport following a possible bird-strike after departing from Queenstown Airport,’ the airline’s chief operations officer Stuart Aggs said in a statement.
‘At this time, we are not aware of any physical injuries to guests or crew. Emergency services personnel are on the ground at Invercargill Airport.
‘Our efforts are now focused on providing support for our guests and crew, as well as transporting and accommodating guests in Invercargill this evening and arranging for their earliest onward travel to Australia.
‘We wish to express our appreciation for the support of Invercargill Airport, Emergency Services, local Air New Zealand team members and our crew onboard in helping to support tonight’s response effort.’
A Virgin Australia plane (stock image) has been forced to make an emergency landing at Invercargill Airport after an engine fire
A passenger on board the flight posted on social media, ‘Trust me, I could ‘feel’ the flames as we took off.’
‘I’m sitting just behind the wing on the right-hand side. Full view of the light show.’
Another posted: ‘Greetings from Invercargill! Mood is calm in the cabin, a tad shaken but on the ground as fire crews inspect the plane. Can confirm it was a bird strike on the way out.’
Shocked witnesses told Newshub they saw ‘flames shooting out the back’ of the plane.
‘I had a good view as I was walking along the Kawarau River with my dog, so the flames… were quite bright,’ Matt Foot said.
‘The engine sounded as though it was over-revving and it would do that twice, and then shoot flames from right around the back of the jet.’
‘I watched this repeat approximately 12 to 14 times before the plane disappeared around the side of the Gibbston Valley hill. The plane appeared to be struggling to gain speed or altitude.’
He said the plane was ‘revving like he had never heard before’, while the initial burst of flames ‘engulfed the whole back of the jet before going out’.
Virgin Australia flight VA148 departed Queenstown Airport bound for Melbourne before making an emergency landing at Invercargill Airport