Qantas Flight Engine Flames
Qantas Flight Safely Diverts to Christchurch After Engine Flames and Suspected Bird Strike
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Key Points
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Witness Nic Chamberlain described hearing a “rapid succession” of bangs—“boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom”—before people looked up and saw the aircraft in distress.
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Qantas initially considered diverting the aircraft to Invercargill Airport before deciding to land at Christchurch, the South Island’s largest and busiest airport.
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Local fire and ambulance crews were called to Christchurch Airport in anticipation of the aircraft’s priority landing.
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The crew’s decision to divert prevented the aircraft from continuing across the Tasman Sea to Sydney, with the flight landing in Christchurch about 50 minutes after departing Queenstown.
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Flight-tracking information indicated that QF122 departed Queenstown at about 4:05 p.m., roughly 40 minutes later than its scheduled 3:25 p.m. departure.
A Qantas Boeing 737-800 diverted to Christchurch Airport after flames erupted from one engine shortly after takeoff from Queenstown. The aircraft, carrying about 160 passengers, landed safely roughly 50 minutes later with no injuries reported. The Chronicle said the incident was initially suspected to be an engine problem, later attributed to a bird strike.
Witness Nic Chamberlain heard a rapid succession of loud bangs—"boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom"—before passengers looked up and saw the aircraft in distress. The crew diverted to Christchurch, South Island's largest airport, after considering Invercargill as an alternative landing site.
Engine Flames Trigger Priority Landing
Flames and loud explosions came from the aircraft's engine shortly after QF122 departed Queenstown at roughly 4:05 p.m.—about 40 minutes later than scheduled. Aviation A2Z reported the crew made the decision to divert immediately, with local fire and ambulance crews called to Christchurch Airport in anticipation of the emergency landing.
Witnesses Describe Terrifying Sounds and Sights
Passengers heard what sounded like gunshots or explosions from the engine. Witness Chamberlain's account captured the intensity of the moment—a rapid-fire series of bangs that alerted everyone to the emergency. Simple Flying noted that the visible flames from the engine added to the alarm felt by those on board.
Bird Strike Likely Cause of Engine Damage
Initial reports described the incident as a suspected engine problem, but News.com.au later attributed the damage to a bird strike. Bird strikes, while rare at high-altitude flight, can cause severe engine damage when they occur during takeoff or landing phases when aircraft operate at lower altitudes.
Passengers Receive Support and Rebooking
All 160 passengers on board exited safely without injuries. Qantas confirmed it would provide passengers with accommodation, meals, and priority rebooking on flights to Sydney. The incident raised the aircraft's profile as an example of emergency procedures working as designed—crew response was swift and the landing was executed safely.
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