An investigation is underway into what caused an engine failure on a Qantas flight as it departed Sydney. Passengers on board reported hearing a loud bang on take-off, before the flight made an emergency landing. The incident sparked a large grass fire on the runway.
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00:00With an engine failing on final approach, this Qantas plane makes an emergency landing
00:08into a haze of smoke. Air traffic controllers issuing a rare distress call. QF520 left Sydney
00:16just after midday on its way to Brisbane, but mid take-off the right engine failed.
00:22The Boeing 737 then banked south and east while quickly losing altitude.
00:28We were basically hitting speed about to take off. The wheels were literally about
00:33to go off the tarmac and there was a massive bang and a shudder.
00:38ABC journalist Mark Willesey was one of hundreds on board.
00:42There were concerned looks. We knew something was wrong and the way the plane kept circling
00:48over the Pacific. Nearly an hour after take-off the flight landed
00:52safely back at Sydney airport. There was a very big palpable sense of relief
00:58On the ground, passengers finally learned what had happened. The engine failure had
01:03sparked a large grass fire on an airport runway. Something's going on at the airport.
01:08Triggering widespread delays as firefighters worked to contain the blaze.
01:13We've sat on the plane for about an hour and 45 minutes. We were told there was a grass
01:18fire. Qantas says a preliminary inspection confirmed
01:22it was a contained engine failure. A spokesperson said while customers would have heard a loud
01:27bang there was not an explosion. Sydney airport says runways have now reopened
01:33but delays could continue into the night. Transport safety investigators have already
01:39started collecting evidence as part of their investigation into what caused the engine
01:44failure. But it could take some time before there are clear answers.