Mid-air scare as flames pour from jet engine
Sydney Morning Herald 11/28/01
A Qantas flight was forced to make an emergency landing when a fanbelt came loose, causing flames and sparks to pour from one of the engines.
QF426, with 192 passengers and 10 crew, left Melbourne for Sydney at 11.20am and was about 10 minutes into the flight when the malfunction occurred.
A Qantas spokeswoman said there was a loss of power in the left side engine of the Boeing 767, possibly caused by a fanbelt coming loose. The engine was quickly shut down, and the aircraft returned to Melbourne, where it landed safely.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau is investigating the incident. The bureau's deputy director, Alan Stray, said the engine would be examined for possible faults, and metallurgical tests might be required.
It was not unusual for sparks to be seen coming from an engine under such circumstances, he said.
