A Qantas spokesperson has apologized to passengers after flames erupted from an engine on a Perth-bound jet moments before takeoff.
QF1737, an Airbus A320-232, was scheduled to depart Karratha Airport in Western Australia at 7:15 p.m. Sunday. The aircraft had already begun its takeoff roll when travelers spotted fire shooting from beneath the wing, prompting the flight crew to abort the departure and return to the gate.
“One of our flights to Perth experienced an engine issue shortly before takeoff from Karratha on Sunday evening,” the spokesperson said in a statement to news.com.au.
“Our pilots followed standard procedures, and the aircraft returned safely to the bay.”
All passengers were safely deboarded after the aircraft reached the bay. The airline immediately cancelled the flight and arranged overnight accommodation for the stranded travelers, rebooking them on the next available service Monday morning.
“Safety is always our number one priority,” the spokesperson continued. “We apologize to customers for the inconvenience and thank them for their understanding.”
Engineers were expected to inspect the aircraft before it could return to service, though no timeline was provided for completing those checks.
The Karratha incident came just months after another frightening engine event involving the Australian carrier. In September, a Qantas flight from Queenstown to Sydney suffered a suspected engine failure shortly after takeoff, forcing the crew to divert to Christchurch.
Rory McDonnell, a passenger on that earlier flight, captured footage of flames and sparks pouring from the engine. He described the terrifying moments to NewsWire.
“The experience was definitely a frightening one,” McDonnell said.
“Within seconds of taking off, there were loud and constant bangs that felt like they were coming from underneath the aircraft.”
McDonnell said the frightening sequence began within moments of departure, as repeated banging noises rang through the aircraft and passengers realized something was wrong.
At the time, a Qantas spokesperson addressed that incident as well. “One of our flights to Sydney experienced a suspected engine issue after takeoff from Queenstown this afternoon, and the aircraft diverted to Christchurch,” they said.
“Our pilots are highly trained to manage situations like this, and the aircraft landed safely.”
The spokesperson added that the airline recognized the distress caused to those on board. “We know this would have been a distressing experience for passengers and will be contacting all customers to provide support.”
Both incidents ended without injuries, with flight crews in each case following established emergency protocols to protect those on board.