A Singapore Airlines flight caught flames Monday as it made an emergency landing at the city’s Changi Airport, CNN reports.
Images posted on social media captured fire shooting from the plane’s wing, with several passengers expressing their relief at having survived the dangerous situation.
Passenger Lee Bee Yee posted on Facebook while she was still on the plane, as she could see the fire and the aftermath as firefighters put out the blaze with foam.
Flight SQ368, a Boeing 777-300ER, took off at around 2:25 a.m. from Changi Airport on June 27. It was carrying 222 passengers and 19 crew members, according to Singapore Airlines. The flight, bound for Milan, Italy, was due to arrive at 8:45 a.m. local time.
Just two hours into the flight, an engine oil warning message appeared, forcing the pilot to turn the plane back for an emergency landing. Upon touchdown at the airport, the right engine promptly burst into flames.
Singapore Airlines and Changi Airport officials have reported that the fire was contained and extinguished within minutes, and all passengers and crew members were safely evacuated off the burnt-out plane.
The passengers were transported to another terminal building and are to be transferred to a later flight departing for Milan later on Monday.
There appeared to be damage to the right wing and GE90 engine, which was made by General Electric. Pilots reportedly followed procedures by turning back immediately and landing safely.
Singapore Airlines said that they will be fully cooperating with authorities in their investigation into the incident.
Known worldwide as one of the leading airlines, Singapore Airlines has not had any major accidents in years, and has been a benchmark for most of the aviation industry. Its only recorded accident that resulted in fatalities was a flight from Singapore to Los Angeles via Taipei, where one of its planes crashed into construction equipment in 2000 on the Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, killing 83 of 179 passengers on board, says Reuters.
