VIDEO: Melbourne-Bound Plane’s Engine Catches Fire Amid Take Off, Lands in New Zealand

Wellington: A passenger aircraft bound for Melbourne, Australia was forced to land at a New Zealand airport after one of its engines caught fire shortly after the take-off on Monday, June 17. The Virgin Australia Boeing 737-800 jet safely landed in Invercargill following the fire forced a diversion.

The fire trucks met the plane after it arrived in Invercargill almost 50 minutes after the takeoff from Queenstown, shift supervisor for Fire and Emergency New Zealand, Lynn Crosson said.

Virgin Australia Boeing 737-8FE aircraft (VH-YIV) had to divert to New Zealand’s Invercargill Airport for a safe landing on Runway 04, owing to bird strike while operating flight VA148 from Queenstown (ZQN) to Melbourne (MEL) earlier today.

Flight : https://t.co/ZYC9B8t8fX… pic.twitter.com/kvx2DvXEAL

— FL360aero (@fl360aero) June 17, 2024

However, the cause of the fire is unclear as of now, Queenstown Airport spokesperson Catherine Nind said.

“Virgin Australia flight VA148 departed Queenstown Airport at 5:50 pm, bound for Melbourne. It experienced an issue just after take-off and has been diverted to Invercargill Airport. We will provide further updates as information becomes available,” Queenstown Airport authorities said in a post on X.

Virgin Australia flight VA148 departed Queenstown Airport at 5.50pm, bound for Melbourne. It experienced an issue just after take-off and has been diverted to Invercargill Airport. We will provide further updates as information becomes available.

— Queenstown Airport (ZQN) (@NZQN) June 17, 2024

Meanwhile, Virgin Australia in an emailed statement said that the the incident might have been caused by “a possible bird strike.”

(With inputs from AP)

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