Passengers see 'big flame' erupt from Jetstar engine

An A320 again. Jetstar spinmeister dismisss "big flame" seen by passengers as "few sparks". Honesty does not seem to be in the genes of Jetstar employees

PASSENGERS on board a plane bound for Darwin have told of their terror when the jet caught fire in mid-air after a "loud bang". Jason Bush, 34, who was sitting behind the wing, told the Northern Territory News he was shocked to see sparks flying for up to two minutes. "We were a bit worried about the fuel line catching on fire because there were that many sparks and we thought if that happened we might not be here to tell the story," Mr Bush said.

Jetstar spokesman Simon Westaway confirmed yesterday the airbus A320 - which was carrying 163 passengers - experienced engine trouble late on Monday night. It was enroute from Adelaide to Darwin but was forced to return to its departure port when the pilot had to shut down one of two engines. "The engine faulted ... but the cause of the mechanical failure is yet to be ascertained," Mr Westaway said. The pilots informed passengers of the issue and turned around. A fire extinguisher also had to be used.

A passenger from Darwin, who did not want not to be named, said the pilots had just turned off the seat belt signs when he heard the bang. "Passengers on the right side of the plane were saying a big flame came from the right engine then all the lights on the right wing stopped working," she said. Another passenger also reporting seeing flames coming from the engine. "There was a large explosion on my side of the plane and then I could see sparks then flames. The plane shuddered and then we turned around and returned to Adelaide," the passenger said.

Mr Westaway, who has spoken to the pilots, denied the plane was on fire. "I can confirm some sparks may have been seen by some passengers," he said.

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