Qantas flight issues mid-air 'mayday' after trouble with engine; makes safe landing at Sydney airport

Ambulance services were pressed into action at Sydney airport as part of an "emergency response"to a Qantas flight carrying more than 100 passengers.

The plane has now reportedly landed safely at the Sydney airport. As per the airline, all 145 passengers disembarked normally when the plane landed in Sydney around 3.30 pm local time (0430 GMT).

Initially, ina statement to the press, an ambulance service spokesperson had revealed that "paramedics have been called,"for Qantas Flight QF144 from Auckland, New Zealand to Sydney, Australia.

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As per a report by Australia’s Channel Nine television news, there were "reports of an engine failure".The aircraft is a Boeing 737-800, a twin-engine plane, which means it can land safely with just one engine.

The flight as per an AFP report had issued a mid-air 'mayday' alert while flying over the Tasman Sea between Australia and New Zealand.

As per the Australian government's aviation regulator, a mayday call indicates that "an aircraft is in grave and imminent danger and requires immediate assistance". However, as per a Reuters report quoting aQantasspokesperson, the grave danger signal wasdowngraded to "Possible Assistance Needed" before landing.

Qantas said that "while in-flight engine shutdowns are rare, and would naturally be concerning for passengers, our pilots are trained to manage them safely and aircraft are designed to fly for an extended period on one engine."

Reuters reports that passengers aboard the flight while talking to local media talked of hearinga loud bang mid-flight. However, they said theyhadn't realised there was a problem until the pilot made an announcement on landing.

(With inputs from agencies)

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