‘The engine’s on fire’: Qantas flight from Queenstown to Sydney reroutes after flames seen by passengers

Passenger Liza-Jayne Loch recounted seeing cabin lights flicker and hearing "a lot of screaming" after a suspected engine issue on her Qantas flight from Queenstown to Sydney. The plane, bound for Sydney, was climbing above New Zealand's South Island mountains on Saturday afternoon when a bang shook the cabin. A passenger near the left wing shouted "the engine's on fire," as cabin lights began to flicker.

Footage showed flames emerging from the plane's left engine in rapid bursts. Despite the fear, Loch remembered that modern jets could safely land on a single engine. As the flames and noise persisted, the plane continued to gain altitude and Qantas sent two engineers to Christchurch for investigation. Both engines were believed to have been operational throughout the 52-minute flight to Christchurch, where passengers disembarked as normal.

Emergency services awaited on the tarmac, and passengers were accommodated in a hotel near Christchurch International Airport before being placed on a complimentary flight to Sydney. While the second flight was smooth, Loch admitted to crying when she landed in Sydney due to the distressing experience.