Qantas flight forced to divert after engine flames and loud bangs

A Qantas Boeing 737 flight, QF122, was forced to make an emergency landing in Christchurch, New Zealand, after experiencing a suspected engine issue shortly after departing Queenstown for Sydney.

Witnesses on the ground reported seeing intermittent bursts of orange flames and hearing loud, popping noises described as “like loud gunshots” coming from the aircraft’s left engine during its ascent. Passengers on board reported seeing visible flames and hearing significant noise, with one traveler describing the experience as “pretty traumatic.”

Despite the engine malfunction, the aircraft landed safely at Christchurch airport, where emergency crews were on standby. All passengers were able to disembark without injury. Qantas stated that its pilots were highly trained to manage the situation and confirmed they would provide support and accommodation to the affected customers.