National

U-turn after third Qantas flight problem

By AAP Newswire

Jan 20, 2023

Qantas Boeing 737-800 aircraft (file image) — The Qantas Boeing 737 aircraft safely touched back down after turning around soon after leaving. -AAP Image

A domestic Qantas flight has turned back due to engine troubles, the third mid-air mishap in as many days for Australia's national carrier.

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The QF430 flight from Melbourne to Sydney departed about 9.40am on Friday before turning around near Bonnie Doon about 10 minutes into its journey.

The Boeing 737 aircraft safely touched back down at Tullamarine Airport a short time later.

In a statement, Qantas said the plane returned to Melbourne as a precaution after the pilots were alerted to a minor engine issue.

"Customers will be reaccommodated on the next available flights over the next few hours," it said.

"The aircraft landed normally - this was not an emergency or priority landing. Both engines remained operational throughout the flight."

It comes after a Qantas service from Auckland to Sydney was forced to issue a mayday following an engine shutdown on Wednesday and another service from Sydney to Fiji on Thursday turned back over potential mechanical troubles.

Transport safety investigators have since confirmed they will analyse the Auckland to Sydney flight's cockpit voice recorder and flight data after the engine failure.

The pilot of QF144 - a Boeing 737 - shut down the engine and made a mayday call over the Pacific Ocean, before landing safe at Sydney's Kingsford Smith Airport about 3.30pm.

Passengers reported turbulence on the flight but said they were unaware of a mayday alert until they landed.