Australia-bound passengers onboard a flight departing Queenstown International Airport (ZQN) have been diverted to Invercargill Airport after the flight allegedly encountered an airstrike on departure, leading to reports of flames being seen from the engine. VA148 has since landed safely at the southernmost controlled airport in the commonwealth (Invercargill), and there have been no reports of injuries onboard. The aircraft is a ten-year-old Boeing 737 NG, registration VH-YIV, serial number 40698.
VA148 departed from the resort destination of Queenstown, which is renowned for its beautiful scenery, and ZQN is claimed to be one of the most challenging airports to . The flight pushed back at 17:59, just ahead of its expected departure of 18:00; however, after encountering an alleged birdstrike, the flight was quickly diverted to Invercargill, a typical diversion airport from Central Otago, due to its calm conditions and long runway (2,210 meters / 7,250 feet), Get all the latest right here. Discover more here.
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