Witnesses reported seeing fire coming from the engine of an aircraft flying over Queenstown, accompanied by “loud bangs.”
The aircraft was diverted to Invercargill Airport, where it has just made an emergency landing with “no visible flames.”
According to the Lakes Weekly Bulletin, the plane experienced engine trouble during takeoff from Queenstown Airport.
Members of the public reported seeing flames coming from one of the engines and heard large bangs, as the Virgin Airlines VA148 flight to Melbourne took off over the Shotover Delta from the airport about 6pm.
Reports say the fire may have been caused by bird strike.
