Liza-Jayne Loch was returning home from a business trip to New Zealand when her Qantas flight QF122 encountered an issue. The plane was climbing above Queenstown’s South Island mountain ranges on Saturday afternoon, heading to Sydney, when a loud bang shook the cabin. A passenger near the left wing shouted, ‘the engine’s on fire,’ and footage showed flames bursting from the left engine.
Loch recalled, ‘I was sitting on the left-hand side, and the flames were very visible. There was a lot of screaming at the time.’ She tried to reassure herself that modern jets could land safely with one engine, but the flames and noise persisted. The flight, which took off from Queenstown, made an emergency landing in Christchurch after about 52 minutes.
Both engines remained operational throughout the flight. Passengers reported that conditions stabilized quickly, and the crew remained calm. Emergency services were waiting on the tarmac, and passengers disembarked normally after a short wait.
A Qantas spokesperson confirmed the plane had an engine issue and assured pilots were highly trained for such situations. The airline offered support to affected passengers, including hotel stays and complimentary flights to Sydney. Loch described the experience as traumatic, crying upon landing in Sydney.
Source: The Guardian
