Scare in the air: Qantas plane forced to shut down one engine before landing safely
Pilots have been forced to shut down an engine on a Qantas flight from Melbourne to Perth before landing safely.
A Qantas aircraft takes off in the midday heat as temperatures soar to forty degrees for a second day in central Sydney, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2009. (AAP Image/Sergio Dionisio) NO ARCHIVING
The Airbus A330-200 left Tullamarine on Monday night but ran into trouble close to Perth Airport.
A passenger aboard QF781 reported hearing a “loud noise” like a burst tyre.
One of the plane’s engines suffered an issue as it approached Perth, a Qantas spokesperson confirmed.
“The pilots followed the procedures for this type of incident and manually shut down the engine and requested a priority landing,” they said in a statement.
“These aircraft are designed to safely operate with one engine.”
Passengers disembarked normally after the plane taxied to the gate under its own power, but engineers will examine the aircraft.
“We know this would have been unsettling for customers on board and we thank them for their co-operation and understanding,” the spokesperson said.
