More drama for Qantas as packed flight from Melbourne to Sydney turns around after take-off
- Qantas flight forced to turn around mid-flight
- Plane was flying from Melbourne to Sydney on Friday
A packed Qantas plane travelling from Melbourne to Sydney has been forced to turn around mid-flight just days after another aircraft issued a mayday call.
The plane is understood to have suffered an engineering issue.
It comes after a pilot on Qantas flight QF144 from Auckland to Sydney was forced to issue a mid-air mayday call halfway through the journey on Wednesday.
The following day, flight QF101 was forced to turn back to Sydney Airport after it suffered a ‘potential mechanical issue’ on its journey to Fiji.
A packed Qantas plane travelling from Melbourne to Sydney has been forced to turn around mid-flight just days after another aircraft issued a mayday call
Passengers on the flight to Auckland on Wednesday have since revealed how they heard a loud bang as the left engine failed mid-air.
However, the majority were blissfully unaware of the issue with the engine until they landed at Sydney airport and were met by a flurry of reporters.
The first travellers to alight the plane said they weren’t told the 747-800 had suffered engine failure, simply that there was some sort of issue after the loud bang.
Passenger Simone Schmidt told the media: ‘We were told nothing had happened, they were totally professional and we only found out when we got back on land.
‘I heard just a bang and maybe a slight shudder but that was it. We had no idea at the time, we didn’t realise the whole engine had gone, we just heard a bang.’
Her husband Colin added: ‘There were a few gasps when they told us when we were back on the runway but by then we had already landed.
‘Even then they told us that it had been a slight malfunction.’
After its safe landing, Qantas said the mayday had been downgraded to a ‘possible assistance needed’.
A statement read: ‘Qantas Flight 144, a 737 flying from Auckland to Sydney, experienced an issue with one of its engines about an hour from its destination.
‘While a mayday was initially issued, this was downgraded to a PAN. The aircraft landed safely at around 3.30pm and is now being inspected by our engineers.’
More to come.
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