A passenger plane departing from Sydney, Australia, encountered engine failure on Friday, forcing it to circle before making a safe emergency landing, Qantas announced on X. During the incident, a grass fire broke out along one side of the runway, according to Sydney Airport.
It remains unclear whether the engine failure and the fire are connected. The fire has since been contained, though some delays are expected for other flights.
Qantas did not disclose the number of passengers on board the twin-engine Boeing 737-800, which was en route to Brisbane when a loud bang signaled the engine failure. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.
“We understand this would have been a distressing experience for customers, and we will be contacting all customers this afternoon to provide support,” stated Qantas Chief Pilot, Captain Richard Tobiano. “We will also be conducting an investigation into the cause of the engine issue.”
