QANTAS DENIES 'TONGUES OF FIRE' FROM ENGINE FORCED RETURN

Bernama - Saturday, December 19
MELBOURNE, Dec 18 (Bernama) – A Qantas jumbo jet was forced to return to Singapore when one of its engines surged, but the airline has denied reports of a fire.

Flight QF10 was less than two hours into a journey from Singapore to Melbourne when the engine surged and had to be shut down about 9.20pm (local time) Thursday, the Australian Associated Press (AAP) reported.

Passengers reportedly described seeing "tongues of fire" shooting from the engine and feeling the plane convulse and lose power.

But a Qantas spokeswoman said there was no fire and passengers were never at risk.

"At approximately 31,000 feet, the engine surged and the flight crew followed procedures and shut down the engine and then they returned back to Singapore. The safety of the passengers was not threatened in any way," the spokeswoman told AAP.

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QANTAS-FLIGHT 2 (LAST) MELBOURNE

"According to official reports there was no fire and there was no smoke. "What they could have seen might have been a flare from the engine but definitely no fire."

The plane, carrying 354 passengers and 19 crew, returned to Singapore's Changi Airport powered by three of its four engines.

Emergency services were waiting but the plane landed without incident.

Passengers were given accommodation for the night and were expected to experience a 23-hour delay before departing for Melbourne.

The Qantas spokeswoman said the jumbo would be grounded while the engine was replaced.

The incident is being investigated.

-- BERNAMA