The plane appeared to spark a fire as it touched down on the tarmac(Image: AFP via Getty Images)

Sydney Airport runway chaos as fire breaks out after plane makes emergency landing

A passenger who was aboard the plane at the time said they heard a "loud bang" from inside the plane as it touched down on the tarmac at Sydney Airport, before the fire broke out

by · The Mirror

A plane suffering from engine failure forced to make an emergency landing at an Australian airport touched down as a grass fire lit on the runway.

The stuttering aircraft carrying passengers aboard the QF520 to Brisbane touched down at Sydney Airport on Friday morning after circling in the air over Australia, Quantas has said, with pilots making a rough landing after its engine started failing. The airline said that, while the landing was safe, a grass fire was ignited along one side of the landing strip,

While Quantas is yet to say whether the landing and the fire were linked, a spokesperson for the airport acknowledged the impact of the "distressing experience" and promised that an investigation would follow. Sydney Airport has warned of flight delays following chaos prompted by the incident.

Firefighters rushed to the scene following the landing( Image: AFP via Getty Images)

Qantas did not say how many passengers were on board the twin jet Boeing 737-800 bound for Brisbane when the engine failed with a loud bang. No injuries were reported. Qantas Chief Pilot Captain Richard Tobiano said in a statement that the airline would contact customers "to provide support".

He said: "After circling for a short period of time, the aircraft landed safely at Sydney airport. Our pilots are highly trained to handle situations like this and the aircraft landed safely after the appropriate procedures were conducted. We understand this would have been a distressing experience for customers and we will be contacting all customers this afternoon to provide support."

Firefighters were able to quickly douse the flames( Image: AFP via Getty Images)

"We will also be conducting an investigation into what caused the engine issue." Sydney Airport said its main runway is still in service following the incident. Representatives said in a statement that the grass fire had broken out along the side of a runway parallel to the main strip, which is now being inspected before it opens again.

They added that delays are expected and advised travellers to check their flight's status with the airline. Australian Broadcasting Corporation reporter Mark Willacy told the AP that a passenger who was an offf-duty passenger had helped the Quantas pilot during the emergency landing.

The plane touched down after suffering from engine failure( Image: AFP via Getty Images)

He said that he heard a "large bang" as the plane landed, and added that it was "clear to everyone" that "something was badly wrong". He said: "There was a large bang and a really jolting shudder went through the plane. We knew immediately something was wrong, but what was more disturbing, I think, was the plane really laboured after that.

"It was a real struggle to get airborne and it was clear to everyone – the crew and the passengers – that something was badly wrong at that point.” Mr Trobiano said that, while passengers will have heard a bang, there was "not an explosion". A flight tracking website shows the aircraft was airborne for about 20 minutes, flying in circles above the airport.