Tuesday, June 18, 2024 A Virgin Australia flight faced a dramatic turn of events when a suspected bird strike forced it to make an emergency landing shortly after takeoff from Queenstown, New Zealand. The Boeing 737-800, operating as flight VA148, had 67 passengers and six crew members on board, all of whom safely disembarked after the emergency landing at Invercargill Airport on New Zealand’s South Island. On a seemingly routine journey from Queenstown to Melbourne, Australia, the Virgin Australia flight encountered unexpected turbulence in the form of a possible bird strike.
Shortly after takeoff, passengers and crew noticed flames shooting from one of the plane’s engines. This alarming sight prompted immediate action from the flight crew, who diverted the aircraft to the nearest suitable airport, Invercargill, to ensure the safety of everyone on board. Bird strikes are a well-known hazard in aviation, particularly during takeoff and landing phases.
These incidents occur when birds collide with aircraft, potentially causing significant damage to engines, wings, or the fuselage. In the case of VA148, the suspected bird strike led to a visible fire in one of the engines, necessitating the emergency landing. According to the flight-tracking website FlightAware, the aircraft spent approximately 50 minutes in the air burning off fuel to reduce its weight for a safer landing.
This standard procedure helps mitigate the risks associated with landing a fully-fueled aircraft, par.