‘The engine’s on fire’: Qantas flight from Queenstown to Sydney reroutes after flames seen by passengers
A Qantas flight from Queenstown to Sydney was forced to divert to Christchurch on Saturday afternoon after a suspected engine issue caused flames to appear from the aircraft's left engine shortly after takeoff. Passenger Liza-Jayne Loch described a bang shaking the cabin, flickering lights and screaming as flames were repeatedly visible from her seat, though she took some comfort in knowing modern jets can land safely on one engine.
Flight QF122, a Boeing 737, landed safely in Christchurch roughly 52 minutes after departure, with both engines believed to have remained operational throughout. Qantas dispatched two engineers to investigate the cause, while affected passengers were accommodated overnight near the airport and flown to Sydney on a complimentary replacement flight the next day. A Qantas spokesperson praised the pilots' training and said the airline would contact all customers to offer support after what it acknowledged was a distressing experience.
In short
- Qantas flight QF122 diverted to Christchurch after suspected engine fire.
- Passengers reported flames, screaming and flickering cabin lights.
- Plane landed safely; passengers flown to Sydney next day.
Explained simply
Queenstown and Sydney are connected by flights across the Tasman Sea, while Christchurch is a major airport on New Zealand’s South Island. Airlines may divert a flight to another airport if a problem needs checking or the crew decides it is safer to land there.
Qantas is Australia’s national airline, and the Boeing 737 is a widely used passenger aircraft with two engines. Jet aircraft are designed to remain controllable if one engine loses power, though the circumstances and safety of any particular flight depend on the aircraft and crew.
Airlines and aviation authorities investigate suspected engine problems to establish what happened and whether any follow-up is needed. Diversions can also leave passengers needing overnight accommodation and replacement travel.
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