Passengers left stranded in New Zealand after a Boeing 737 airplane was pressured to divert from its flight to Melbourne are dealing with a protracted day’s journey to their vacation spot.
Queenstown Airport stated the Virgin Australia flight VA148 departed Queenstown at 5.50pm yesterday, certain for Melbourne when it skilled a difficulty simply after take-off.
It was then diverted to Invercargill Airport, the place it landed safely.
Virgin Australia Chief Operations Officer Stuart Aggs stated in a press release that the airplane bumped into issues following a doable fowl strike on take off.
“The plane has been met by emergency providers at Invercargill Airport.
The security of our visitors and crew is our highest precedence,” Aggs stated.
Passengers waking in Invercargill this morning will probably be bussed to Queenstown, Virgin advised 9News.
They may fly to Brisbane late this afternoon, arriving at about 6.25pm.
From there, they may lastly journey on to Melbourne.
Witnesses yesterday stated noticed flames coming from one of many engines and heard loud bangs.
Darren Robinson filmed the airplane going over his home and advised Stuff the flames have been noticeable. He stated he heard a “loud bang” and went outdoors and noticed hearth coming from the airplane.
“I used to be inside with the children and heard one thing that seemed like somebody was doing donuts or one thing. I went outdoors and noticed flames popping out of this airplane’s engine.”
“They weren’t fixed flames, extra like increase, increase, increase. It was virtually prefer it was backfiring,” he stated.
Robinson added the flames have been respectable and have been spinning out the again of the airplane’s engine.
A passenger stated to be on the flight stated on X (previously Twitter) that they might really feel the flames because the airplane took off.
“I may really feel the flames as we took off. I am sitting simply behind the wing on the right-hand facet. Full view of the sunshine present!”
Firefighters have been alerted to the blaze quickly after 6pm when the airplane took off from Queenstown Airport, Hearth and Emergency southern shift supervisor Lyn Crosson stated.
“It appeared like hearth exhibiting from one engine,” she stated.
“The engine has been shut down so it is not a difficulty, and we now have acquired crews on the bottom at Invercargill Airport as a precaution solely.”
She had acquired reviews that the fireplace could have been brought on by a fowl strike, however had not acquired affirmation.
