This was reported today on
www.news.com.au
Anybody got any additional information?
A CATHAY Pacific passenger jet's left engine exploded minutes after takeoff from the Thai capital Bangkok, dropping debris on a car driving near the airport, a newspaper and the car's owner said today.
The Boeing 777-300, which was carrying 348 passengers, returned safely to Bangkok's international airport yesterday evening, The Nation newspaper reported.
The debris damaged the vehicle but did not cause any injuries.
Deputy Transport Minister Vichet Kasemthongsri said an engine on flight CX751 from Bangkok to Bombay had malfunctioned, causing a small explosion after take-off, according to the report.
A spokesman for the Hong Kong-based airline in Thailand, Yongyuth Luchiadanond, said part of the engine, measuring about 1.5m wide and 2m long, plunged onto the roof of a car
The passengers on the plane were transferred to another flight about 1am (0500 AEDT) today, he said.
Mr Yongyuth said the accident was under investigation, but would not give further details. Cathay Pacific was talking to its insurance company about compensating the driver of the car hit by debris, he said.
Mongkol Uthoksiri, the owner of the car, said he had met Cathay Pacific representatives.
The impact of the falling metal part shattered the windshield of the car, a Nissan sedan, and crumpled its roof, he said.
"I am seeking compensation from the Cathay Pacific airline for causing total damage to my car," Mr Mongkol said.
It was the third time in recent weeks that engine trouble has forced a Cathay Pacific jet to abort a flight.
Earlier this month, one of its Hong Kong-bound passenger jets returned to London after developing engine trouble, and on November 10, one of Cathay's Hong Kong-bound flights returned to Los Angeles after witnesses reported seeing flames on one of its engines.
Queenslander