Passengers 'freak out' as engine stops

ROSS GIBLIN/The Dominion Post

ONE ENGINE DOWN: The damaged engine was shut down but the pilots managed to land the plane safely at Wellington airport.

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Passengers on an Air New Zealand Link flight forced to make an emergency landing after smoke filled the cabin say they feared for their lives because staff delayed telling them what had happened.

Waikato Times reporter Matt Richens, who was on the 6pm flight NZ5015, said a large bang was heard near the right engine about 15 seconds after takeoff from Wellington airport en route to Christchurch. Immediately after, the cabin began filling with smoke coming from the air-conditioning units.

"The engine on the right-hand side stopped. A lady there said she saw something hit it. Everyone panicked," Richens said.

"All conversations stopped. There was a general sense of panic."

The plane continued flying for about another two minutes before a steward made an announcement that the plane would be returning to Wellington. Richens said the steward later told him engine failure had happened 12 times in his 33-year career.

Among the 65 passengers and four crew on the flight were seven members of the Northern Districts women's cricket team and their management.

Player Ane Swart, 19, said the delay in telling passengers what had happened made her think the worst. "We were like, oh my God, what the hell?"

She thought she was going to die and she saw people crying and "freaking out". "They did tell us that everything would be okay ... but for ages they didn't tell us [what was happening]."

Once the plane had landed back in Wellington, all the passengers were ushered into the Koru Lounge and "locked in", she said.

Ms Swart, who spoke to The Dominion Post half an hour after the incident, said passengers were yet to be told what had happened. "They haven't told us a thing."

When the announcement was made that they would return to the airport, the steward "sounded real shaky. That was another reason why I panicked".

Natalie Edwards, also 19, said she could see one engine had stopped but the other was still going. "I wasn't saying anything, I was just trying to concentrate on not flipping out."

Wellington airport spokeswoman Louise Murray said the pilot alerted the airport of a mid-air incident, calling for a full emergency. However, the plane landed safely on one engine.

Ms Murray said full emergencies were rare. Seven fire engines went to the airport, though the fire service said it knew few details about the incident.

Wellington Free Ambulance said one passenger was treated at the scene but was not taken to hospital. "They were a bit shaken up more than anything. [It would be] quite scary seeing an engine on fire."

Air New Zealand spokeswoman Tracy Mills said the pilots spotted an indicator light and shut down an engine. The reason for the shutdown was not known last night.

The plane, an ATR 72-500 being operated by Air New Zealand subsidiary Mt Cook Airlines, will be inspected by engineers.

- © Fairfax NZ News