Qantas QF122 flight diverted due to suspected engine fire from Queenstown to Sydney
Consensus Summary
A Qantas flight QF122 from Queenstown to Sydney was diverted to Christchurch on Saturday due to a suspected engine issue shortly after takeoff. Multiple sources reported flames coming from the left engine, with bystanders and passengers witnessing the incident. The aircraft landed safely in Christchurch, and Qantas confirmed the pilots handled the situation professionally. Passengers were provided accommodation and support, with some rebooked on alternate flights. While most sources agree on the diversion and safe landing, discrepancies exist regarding the exact time of departure and landing, with The West and ABC reporting an earlier time than SMH and Guardian. The cause of the engine issue remains under investigation, with 7News citing a possible bird strike.
✓ Verified by 2+ sources
Key details reported by multiple sources:
- Flight QF122 departed Queenstown for Sydney on Saturday
- The flight was diverted to Christchurch due to a suspected engine issue after takeoff
- Flames were observed coming from the left engine shortly after takeoff
- The aircraft landed safely in Christchurch
- The Boeing 737 had a seating capacity of 160 passengers
- Qantas confirmed the pilots were highly trained to manage the situation
- Passengers were provided accommodation and support after the incident
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- Flight QF122 departed Queenstown just after 12.05pm AWST on Saturday morning
- The aircraft landed safely 50 minutes after takeoff
- Bystanders reported seeing flames coming from the engine
- The flight was scheduled to arrive in Sydney on Saturday evening at 5pm
- Queenstown residents reported hearing loud bangs and four or five 'massive explosions' as the 15-year-old Boeing 737 departed
- Firefighters were stationed on the tarmac at Christchurch as a precaution
- The incident occurred on Saturday afternoon
- The flight landed in Christchurch shortly before 5pm local time
- Qantas sent two engineers to Christchurch on Sunday to investigate the issue
- Passengers were put up in a hotel near Christchurch airport and booked on a complimentary flight to Sydney on Sunday
- A passenger described flames appearing in rapid bursts from the left engine
- The flight departed Queenstown just before 3:30pm on Saturday
- The flight was scheduled to land in Sydney at 4:50pm
- Liam Aspinall witnessed flames from the engine as the plane approached Queenstown
- Both engines remained operational throughout the flight, with no engine shutdown or failure
- The Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand blamed a bird strike for the engine issue
Where the reporting differs
Details that conflict, or appear in only some outlets:
- The West says the flight departed at 12.05pm AWST on Saturday morning, but ABC says it departed just before 3:30pm on Saturday
- SMH and Guardian say the flight landed in Christchurch at 5pm local time, but The West says it landed 50 minutes after takeoff (around 12.55pm AWST)
- The West and ABC describe the flight as taking off in the morning or early afternoon, while SMH and Guardian describe it as taking off in the afternoon or evening
- SMH and Guardian mention the plane was a 15-year-old Boeing 737, but this detail is not confirmed by other sources
Source Articles
Qantas QF122: Queenstown to Sydney flight diverted over suspected engine issues
Engine issues shortly after take off have forced a Sydney-bound Qantas flight to turnaround.
Sydney-bound Qantas flight diverted after flames appear spitting from engine
Flames burst from the Qantas plane engine after take-off from Queenstown, forcing an emergency landing.
‘The engine’s on fire’: Qantas flight from Queenstown to Sydney reroutes after flames seen by passengers
Passenger recalls seeing cabin lights flicker and ‘a lot of screaming’ after suspected engine issue Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast Liza-Jayne Loch was returning home from a business trip to New Zealand when her Qantas flight ran into trouble. The plane was climbing above the scenic South Island’s mountain ranges on Saturday afternoon, bound for Sydney, when a bang shook the cabin. Continue reading...
Engine flames from Sydney-bound Qantas flight forces plane to be diverted
The Sydney-bound Boeing aircraft left the alpine ski town of Queenstown in New Zealand just before 3:30pm before it had to be diverted to Christchurch.
Sydney‑bound Qantas flight diverted to Christchurch after suspected engine issue
The plane had just left Queenstown when the problem arose.
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