A Virgin Airlines flight has been forced to make an emergency landing after flames were spotted coming from its engine.
Witnesses reported hearing “loud bangs” as the Boeing aircraft flew over Queenstown, New Zealand.
The plane was diverted to Invercargill Airport and made an emergency landing with “no visible flames”.
A number of passengers onboard claim the Boeing 737 aircraft hit a bird just after takeoff.
Witnesses claims the plane “sounded like it was coming apart” before flames erupted.
A Queenstown Airport spokeswoman said: “Virgin Australia flight VA148 departed Queenstown Airport at 5.59pm, bound for Melbourne.
“It experienced an issue just after takeoff and has been diverted to Invercargill Airport.”
It is reported that 73 people were on board the aircraft at the time.
Flames were seen coming from the engine as the plane climbed over the Shotover Delta and witnesses reported hearing loud bangs.
“It was making one hell of a pulsing/throbbing noise out of one engine then it was shooting flames out – maybe hit a bird? It continued climbing and the noise and flame stopped,” witness Nick Lambert told the New Zealand Herald.
Another witness said: ‘Sounded like it was coming apart over our house. One engine was throwing flames and sputtering out.’
The flight was met with a “full turn-out” of emergency responders in Invercargill
Peoplesmind
