Qantas passengers have described hearing a “bang” when one of the engines failed mid-air on a flight from Auckland to Sydney.
Firefighters and paramedics were on standby at Sydney Airport after flight QF144 issued a distress signal at around 2.10pm.
The alert was later downgraded to a PAN, meaning help may be needed.
Aerial footage showed the plane descending at the airport before landing on the tarmac in Mascot, in Sydney’s eastern suburbs.
Passengers were smiling as they left.
A woman visiting via New Zealand from the United Kingdom told NCA NewsWire that the pilot communicated with the passengers about an “engine problem” but did not inform them that a distress call had been made.
The flight was supposed to land at 3.10pm but landed safely at 3.26pm, according to FlightRadar24.
It was delayed by 55 minutes from Auckland Airport.
Passenger Nigel Morris said: “We didn’t know anything at the time but we’re safe here.
“When they said we could turn on the phone, I turned on the phone and my wife called about 18 times.
“It’s a debate about whether it’s better to know or not to know.”
Other travelers said they heard a “pop” and “several gasps” upon landing.
A couple told NewsWire: “We didn’t realize the whole engine was down, we just heard a bang and that was it.
“We kind of gasped when they told us on the actual runway, but we’ve landed.”
Les Li Spring, another passenger, said: “It was a bit bumpy but like turbulence, we wouldn’t have known if they hadn’t told us.”
The jet, a Boeing 737-838, has twin engines but can only fly with one engine.
A Qantas spokesman said: “Qantas Flight 144, a 737 from Auckland to Sydney, experienced a problem with one of its engines about an hour from its destination.
“It will now land in Sydney at around 330pm and will be handled by emergency services as per standard procedure.
“While a distress call was initially issued, it has now been downgraded to a PAN (‘Help may be needed’).
“We will share more information about this incident once the aircraft has landed and been evaluated by our engineers.”
A NSW Ambulance spokesman said paramedics were on standby “in case the landing does not go well” due to mechanical issues with the plane.
“Sydney Airport has emergency personnel on standby as a precaution, as well as fire, police and paramedics on the ground,” a Sydney Airport representative said.
