A significant fire has erupted at Sydney Airport, prompting urgent attention from emergency services. pic.twitter.com/bv7nPh6Ya9
— f l a t w h i t e (@coffeepakemilk) November 8, 2024
What is happening at Sydney Airport in light of the unexpected incidents unfolding? #sydneyairport pic.twitter.com/aSlUpbCw7T
— HAL9000 (@HAL__90001) November 8, 2024
According to news.com.au, Qantas flight QF520, on its journey from Sydney to Brisbane, took off shortly before 1 PM. Shortly after takeoff, startled passengers reported hearing a loud “bang.” Following this incident, the aircraft circled Bottany Bay while awaiting clearance to make an emergency landing.
Channel Nine producer Georgina Lewis, a passenger on the flight, recounted the harrowing experience, stating, “We were taking off and we heard a bang just as we took off and one of the engines appeared to have gone. There was silence on board for a while, it felt like we weren’t gaining much altitude.”
About 10 minutes after the distressing event, the pilot’s announcement alleviated some of the tension. He explained there was an issue with the right-hand engine, prompting its shutdown for safety measures. “I’m assuming they then had to prepare everyone on the ground, so we were circling Sydney over the water for quite some time until we were able to land safely, possibly on one engine, which led to a lot of cheering from the passengers on board,” Lewis recalled.
Echoing relief, Lewis noted the aircraft was full, and upon landing, jubilant cheers erupted throughout the cabin. Emergency response teams promptly surrounded the plane as fire trucks assessed the situation. “Fire trucks have been assessing the plane from the outside and we’re being escorted by them from the terminal,” she added. Witnessing the scene unfold, she remarked, “I could see a big line of smoke, and we’re assuming that may have come from us, we don’t know on board.”
Plumes of smoke billowed from the vicinity, visible from the terminal at Sydney Airport. The Herald reached out to Sydney Airport for further clarification. A spokesperson confirmed that the emergency landing occurred just after 1 PM on Friday. “Earlier today, a Brisbane-bound flight made an emergency return to Sydney Airport, landing safely just after 1 PM. This departure of aircraft coincided with a grass fire along the eastern side of the airport’s parallel runway, which was quickly brought under control by teams from the Aviation Rescue Fire Fighting Service. It remains uncertain if the two incidents are connected, and investigations are ongoing.
Our landing at Sydney Airport was aborted due to a grass fire next to the runway. Fire crews had plenty to do on site. pic.twitter.com/EbTwYD6ZGV
— Nigel Withers (@MajorBlipvert) November 8, 2024
A grass fire has ignited at Kingsford Smith Airport, with preliminary reports suggesting it was sparked by an engine explosion from the aforementioned Qantas flight bound for Brisbane, which has since safely returned to Sydney. pic.twitter.com/k1eMzeLH4P
— Evan (@fictillius) November 8, 2024
“With the aircraft safely on the ground, Sydney Airport is prioritizing a thorough inspection of its parallel runway in order to restore it to service as rapidly as possible. The main runway remains operational; however, passengers should anticipate some delays and we appreciate their patience during this critical time.”
“Passengers traveling today are encouraged to check with their airline for updates on flight status or refer to the online flight information boards available on the Sydney Airport website,” the spokesperson said.
– additional reporting news.com.au
**Interview with Georgina Lewis, Passenger on Qantas Flight QF520**
**Interviewer:** Thank you for joining us, Georgina. Can you tell us what you experienced during the flight before the emergency landing?
**Georgina Lewis:** Thank you for having me. It was quite a harrowing experience, to say the least. We took off from Sydney around 1 PM, and right after we lifted off, we heard a loud bang that startled everyone on board. It felt very unsettling.
**Interviewer:** That sounds intense! What happened immediately after you heard the noise?
**Georgina Lewis:** There was a moment of silence; it felt like the plane wasn’t gaining altitude. Then the pilot made an announcement explaining there was an issue with the right engine and that it was shut down for safety. We circled over Botany Bay while waiting for clearance to land, which felt like an eternity.
**Interviewer:** That must have been nerve-wracking. How did the passengers react?
**Georgina Lewis:** There was palpable tension in the cabin. But when the pilot reassured us, there was some relief. Once we landed safely, everyone erupted in cheers. I think we were all very grateful to be on the ground again.
**Interviewer:** What did you see once the plane landed?
**Georgina Lewis:** Once we landed, we could see emergency response teams were waiting for us including fire trucks. They surrounded the aircraft as a precaution. I noticed plumes of smoke in the distance, which added to the anxiety, but the fire crews quickly assessed everything.
**Interviewer:** It sounds like quite a chaotic scene. Can you confirm any details regarding the smoke that was seen from the terminal?
**Georgina Lewis:** Yes, after we landed, there were visible trails of smoke, and while we suspected it might have been linked to us, we didn’t know for sure at that point. The authorities are investigating the situation, but it’s still being sorted out whether it was connected to our emergency landing or a separate incident.
**Interviewer:** Thank you for sharing your story, Georgina. It’s reassuring to hear that everyone was okay by the end of it. Let’s hope for a clear resolution to the investigation.
**Georgina Lewis:** Thank you for having me. Our safety was the priority, and I just hope the flights can resume normally soon!
