Passengers aboard a Qantas flight had a frightening experience after flames were spotted shooting from beneath the aircraft’s wing during take-off.
The incident occurred on Sunday evening when flight QF1737, operated by an Airbus A320, was preparing to depart from Karratha Airport in Western Australia heading for Perth.
Dramatic footage captured by passengers shows flames erupting from beneath the aircraft’s wing as it travelled along the runway, prompting the pilots to abandon the take-off.
The aircraft was subsequently returned safely to the airport bay, where passengers and crew disembarked.
Qantas later confirmed the incident was caused by an engine issue, although the precise cause has not yet been established.
“One of our flights to Perth experienced an engine issue shortly before take-off from Karratha on Sunday evening,” a Qantas spokesperson said.
“Our pilots followed standard procedures and the aircraft returned safely to the bay.
“Safety is always our number one priority. We apologise to customers for the inconvenience and thank them for their understanding.”
All passengers and crew were safely evacuated from the aircraft, with no injuries reported.
The incident resulted in the cancellation of the flight, leaving passengers stranded in Karratha overnight.
Qantas arranged accommodation for affected travellers and worked to get them onto alternative services to Perth the following morning.
According to the airline, replacement flight arrangements had been organised by Monday morning, allowing passengers to continue their journeys.
The aircraft will undergo a full inspection by Qantas engineers, with any necessary repairs to be completed before it is cleared to return to service.
