Watch: Engine failure forces Qantas flight back to Sydney, causes grassfire near runway

A Qantas aircraft on Friday performed an emergency landing at Sydney Airport following a "contained engine failure" shortly after departure, causing a grassfire near the runway and leading to flight diversions.

The Brisbane-bound Qantas flight QF520 briefly circled before safely returning to Sydney Airport, according to a statement by Qantas Chief Pilot Captain Richard Tobiano.

"Qantas engineers have conducted a preliminary inspection of the engine and confirmed it was a contained engine failure," the airline said. "While customers would have heard a loud bang, there was not an explosion."

Footages showed smoke coming from the grass near the runway as the plane made the landing.
According to Airservices Australia, the government aviation regulator, the engine malfunction ignited a grass area beside the runway, which fire crews promptly extinguished.

The regulator's National Operations Management Centre implemented a 47-minute ground stop at Sydney Airport to facilitate the aircraft's immediate landing. No injuries occurred, and authorities expected the affected runway to resume operations later that Friday evening.

Passenger Georgina Lewis reported hearing a "bang" during the flight. "One of the engines appeared to have gone. The pilot came on 10 minutes later to explain that they had a problem with a right-hand engine on take-off," she told local outlet Channel Nine.

Meanwhile fellow passenger Mark Willacy, an ABC journalist, described the aircraft's difficulty gaining altitude after the "loud bang". "That big bang as the wheels were leaving the ground and the shudder, that was like nothing I have ever felt," he told ABC. "When we landed there was a lot of applause and cheering amongst the passengers."

Pilot Captain Richard Tobiano emphasised his crew's extensive training for such emergencies. "We understand this would have been a distressing experience for customers and we will be contacting all customers this afternoon to provide support," he said. "We will also be conducting an investigation into what caused the engine issue," he added.

Qantas arranged alternative flights for affected passengers. A Sydney Airport representative confirmed eleven domestic flight cancellations and four diversions to alternative airports.