Virgin Airlines aircraft to make emergency landing in Queenstown

A Virgin Airlines flight has been forced to make an emergency landing at Invercargill Airport after an engine fire. 

The flight from Queenstown to Melbourne reportedly experienced engine trouble on take off.

Flames were seen coming from the engine and witnesses reported hearing loud bangs.

A Queenstown Airport spokeswoman said: ‘Virgin Australia flight VA148 departed Queenstown Airport at 5.59pm, bound for Melbourne. It experienced an issue just after takeoff and has been diverted to Invercargill Airport.’

 A witness saw the aircraft flying overhead.

‘It was making one hell of a pulsing/throbbing noise out of one engine then it was shooting flames out – maybe hit a bird?’ Nick Lambert said. 

Another witness said: ‘Sounded like it was coming apart over our house. One engine was throwing flames and sputtering out.’

73 people were believed to be on board the aircraft at the time, with both a passenger and crew member reported to be injured after the emergency landing. 

In a statement Virgin Australia Chief Operations Officer Stuart Aggs said: ‘Virgin Australia flight VA148 from Queenstown to Melbourne diverted to Invercargill Airport and landed safely following a possible bird strike on take-off this evening.

The aircraft has been met by emergency services at Invercargill Airport.

The safety of our guests and crew is our highest priority.’

Virgin Australia flight VA148 touched down ‘safely’ in Invercargill at about 6:55pm. 

A witness told Newshub they saw ‘flames shooting out the back’ of the plane.

‘I had a good view as I was walking along the Kawarau River with my dog, so the flames… were quite bright, Matt Foot said.

‘The engine sounded as though it was over-revving and it would do that twice, and then shoot flames from right around the back of the jet.’

The witness added: ‘I watched this repeat approximately 12 to 14 times before the plane disappeared around the side of the Gibbston Valley hill. The plane appeared to be struggling to gain speed or altitude.’

He said the plane was ‘revving like he had never heard before’, while the initial burst of flames ‘engulfed the whole back of the jet before going out’.

A passenger on board the flight posted on social media, ‘Trust me, I could “feel” the flames as we took off.’

‘I’m sitting just behind the wing on the right-hand side. Full view of the light show,’ the passenger said.

More to come.