By Benson Daniel
Passengers aboard a Qantas flight from Queenstown to Sydney were left frightened after flames were seen coming from one of the aircraft’s engines shortly after takeoff, forcing the Boeing 737 to divert to Christchurch.
Flight QF122 departed Queenstown on Saturday afternoon but encountered what the airline described as a suspected engine issue while climbing over New Zealand’s South Island.
Passengers reported hearing several loud bangs before flames began appearing from the aircraft’s left engine. Some said cabin lights flickered as the incident unfolded, while others described panic and screaming inside the cabin.
One passenger, Liza Jayne Loch, said the flames were clearly visible from her seat near the left wing and continued to appear in repeated bursts.
The aircraft was carrying passengers travelling to Sydney when the crew decided to divert to Christchurch as a precaution. The plane landed safely about 52 minutes after leaving Queenstown, with emergency services waiting on the ground.
Despite the dramatic scenes, Qantas said both engines remained operational throughout the flight and there was no complete engine shutdown or failure.
The airline praised the pilots for their handling of the situation and said they were highly trained to manage incidents of this nature.
Passengers were allowed to leave the aircraft after landing and were provided with accommodation in Christchurch before being booked onto another flight to Sydney on Sunday.
Several passengers praised the cabin crew for remaining calm and keeping travellers informed as the situation developed.
For some passengers, however, the experience was deeply unsettling. One traveller described hearing repeated bangs and seeing fire coming from the engine while the aircraft was still climbing.
The aircraft has since been grounded in Christchurch while Qantas engineers carry out a detailed inspection. The airline said an investigation was underway to establish what caused the engine problem.
The cause of the flames has not yet been officially confirmed. Aviation specialists have suggested that an engine malfunction, potentially involving a compressor problem or another mechanical issue, could produce the type of repeated bangs and flames reported by passengers.
The incident has also attracted attention because the aircraft was operating from Queenstown, an airport surrounded by mountainous terrain, meaning pilots have to carefully manage any technical problem occurring shortly after departure.
Despite the frightening circumstances, the aircraft was able to continue flying and reach Christchurch safely.
The incident is another reminder of the safety procedures built into modern commercial aircraft, which are designed to allow pilots to continue flying and land safely even when an engine develops a serious problem.
Qantas has said it understands the incident was distressing for passengers and will continue to provide assistance to those affected.
The airline’s investigation will determine whether the aircraft can return to service and whether any further inspections are required on similar aircraft.
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