A Qantas Airways flight bound for Brisbane made an emergency landing at Sydney Airport on Friday following an engine failure shortly after takeoff, the Australian airline confirmed. Flight QF520, a Boeing 737-800, took off from Sydney at 12:35 p.m. local time but quickly encountered a mechanical issue that forced it to circle before landing safely back at the airport. The incident coincided with a grass fire near a parallel runway, adding to the unfolding drama.
Passengers aboard the flight described hearing a loud bang from one of the aircraft's engines. Mark Willacy, a journalist with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation who was on board, reported a "sharp shudder" following the noise. "It was apparent something had happened with one of the engines, then the plane seemed to labor to get off the ground or gain altitude," Willacy said.
Qantas did not disclose the number of passengers or crew aboard, but the Boeing 737-800 is typically configured to seat 12 in business class and 162 in economy. No injuries were reported among those on board. The airline noted that its engineers had conducted an initial inspection and confirmed a "contained engine failure," meaning internal parts of the engine remained enclosed within its housing. Contained failures are less dangerous compared to uncontained failures, which can cause serious damage to an aircraft's structure if debris escapes.
The emergency landing coincided with a grass fire breaking out alongside Sydney Airport's parallel runway. Firefighting teams swiftly brought the blaze under control. Sydney Airport stated it was unclear if there was any link between the engine incident and the fire but noted that investigations were ongoing. "It's not clear at this stage if the two incidents are linked," the airport said, adding that flight delays were likely as a result of the fire and subsequent inspections.
Qantas Chief Pilot Captain Richard Tobiano acknowledged the distress passengers may have experienced during the emergency and assured that the airline would be reaching out to offer support. "We understand this would have been a distressing experience for customers, and we will be contacting all customers this afternoon to provide support," Tobiano said in a statement. He confirmed that a thorough investigation would be conducted to determine the cause of the engine issue.
Adding another layer to the emergency, an off-duty pilot who happened to be on board reportedly assisted the crew during the landing. This quick-thinking collaboration helped ensure the aircraft's safe return to Sydney.
Flight tracking data showed the plane remained airborne for approximately 20 minutes, circling over the airport before touching down. Sydney Airport's main runway remained operational, but the parallel runway affected by the grass fire underwent inspection, with delays anticipated for other flights.
The aircraft involved is a 19-year-old Boeing 737-800, powered by engines from CFM International, a joint venture between GE Aerospace and Safran of France. This model, widely used in commercial aviation, is known for its reliability, making the incident noteworthy for its rarity.
The U.S.-based Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Australian aviation authorities are expected to be involved in the investigation given the global implications of potential engine issues in this widely used aircraft type.
