Qantas pilots' incredible act saves 181 people after plane engine failure

Air safety authorities have commended an airline crew for their response to engine failure that occurred during take-off. The crew aboard Qantas flight QF520 had just departed from Sydney for Brisbane in November 2024 when the crew heard a bang and felt a shudder as the aircraft's right engine failed . The flight had 181 people on board. The crew immediately recognised the engine failure based on caution lights and indications, but the Air Transport Safety Bureau report released on Wednesday, April 29 said they continued their take-off as the aircraft had reached the speed beyond which it should not be aborted. "This engine failure occurred at the worst possible moment during a critical phase of flight," ATSB Chief Commissioner Angus Mitchell said. "The flight crew responded quickly and decisively, continuing the take-off, declaring an emergency, and conducting relevant checklists while planning a return to Sydney." Passenger Mark Willacy said that he heard a band and felt a jolting shudder through the plane when the wheels were lifting off the ground. "We knew immediately something was wrong. But what was more disturbing, I think, the plane really laboured after that," he said. The pilot alerted passengers to a major problem with the aircraft's right engine. Willacy said the aircraft banked and looped over Sydney for about 15 minutes before eventually landing safely with just one engine, the New Daily reported. "When we landed, there was a lot of applause and cheering among the passengers. And I have to praise, always, the professionals and the pilots and the crew," he added. Mitchell said all those involved in the emergency – the flight and cabin crew, ARFFS, and air traffic controllers – worked together effectively to ensure a safe and uneventful return to Sydney for the aircraft, and those on board. The engine failure was due to a fatigue crack and it was scheduled to be replaced less than two weeks later, as it was nearing the threshold recommended by the manufacturer, CFM International. CFM International reviewed its CFM56-7B engine fleet after the incident and found that although there had been several previous engine failures due to such cracking. The specific high-pressure turbine blade configuration of the engine on QF520 engine still met internal reliability targets and relevant regulatory guidelines. Newer high-pressure turbine blade configurations have been introduced.