Wat-Not Staff
A Qantas flight en route from Sydney to Brisbane made an emergency landing on Friday after experiencing an engine failure. Shortly after takeoff, passengers aboard Flight 520 heard a loud bang, followed by intense turbulence.
According to Qantas, the incident involved a “contained engine failure,” without any explosion.“A jolting shudder went through the plane,” said passenger Mark Willacy, a journalist for ABC News.
He described the unsettling moment, adding, “That big bang as the wheels were leaving the ground was like nothing I’ve ever felt.” The pilot quickly decided to circle back to Sydney, ensuring all passengers remained calm during the return.
The aircraft, a Boeing 737, took off at around 12:35 p.m. local time. After safely navigating back to Sydney, the plane landed without further incident.
Passengers Share Terrifying Moments
As Flight 520 ascended, it “really laboured to gain altitude,” according to Willacy. Passengers felt the aircraft shudder as it struggled with one engine working harder than usual. “We knew something was wrong,” Willacy noted, recalling the tense moments after the loud bang.
The plane also faced challenges stabilizing during its descent. “It didn’t feel as stable as it would normally when turning,” Willacy recounted, underscoring the unease felt by many onboard. Despite the fear, all passengers reported relief as the plane safely touched down.
Qantas’ chief pilot, Capt. Richard Tobiano confirmed the emergency landing and praised the crew for ensuring a swift, secure response to the engine malfunction.
Fire Incident Near Airport Runway
Simultaneously, a grass fire erupted near Sydney Airport’s eastern runway, though officials have not determined if it influenced Flight 520’s descent.
Firefighters quickly controlled the blaze, and the airport resumed full operations by late afternoon. Sydney Airport stated that ongoing investigations would clarify any links between the two incidents.
As of Friday evening, all passengers and crew remained safe, and Qantas confirmed that engineers were thoroughly inspecting the plane to prevent future occurrences.
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