Emirates plane in emergency landing after mid-air engine 'explosion'
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A Dubai-bound Emirates flight made an emergency landing shortly after take-off from Sydney because one of its engines "exploded" mid-air at 10,000ft.
According to news.com.au, some passengers reported seeing flames shooting out of the engine. John Fothergill, 49, from Auckland, said: "I saw a flash. I thought it could have been lightning but then we saw flames come out of the engine. The whole interior of the A380 lit up.
"You'd have to say there were two or three metre flames. (The) explosion shook the plane, there was a bigger judder.''
One female passenger was less dramatic, telling Sky News: "We saw a flashing light outside, sort of fiery, but not like big flames or anything."
An Emirates spokeswoman denied there were flames, saying: "There was no fire, no flames, no smoke. There may have been a loud bang."
According to the Washington Post, passenger Ross Clarke told Australia's Seven Network that he heard that "loud bang", saying: "We were told by the pilot that something had gone wrong on the starboard engine, number three engine."
The airline said an engine fault was to blame for the incident, which occurred about 20 minutes into flight EK413
According to news.com.au, Emirates added: "Passengers are being re-booked on alternative flights (and) Emirates apologises for any inconvenience caused to its customers."
Back in August, a United Airlines flight was forced to make an emergency landing at New Jersey's Newark airport after a fire broke out on the engine soon after take off.
The Daily Mail reported that the Boeing 757, which was bound for Berlin, took off just after 5.50pm.
Witnesses said that they saw flames coming from the aircraft at about 6.30pm, but the plane was forced to circle over New Jersey for almost two hours to burn off fuel before landing.
It landed safely at 8.05pm, and the blaze was quickly extinguished. No passengers were injured.
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