U-turn after third Qantas flight problem

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A domestic Qantas flight has been canceled due to engine problems, the third mid-air accident in as many days for Australia’s flag carrier.

The QF430 flight from Melbourne to Sydney took off at about 9.40am on Friday and turned around near Bonnie Doon after about 10 minutes.

A short time later, the Boeing 737 aircraft landed safely back at Tullamarine Airport.

In a statement, Qantas said the plane returned to Melbourne as a precaution after pilots were warned of a minor engine problem.

“Customers will be accommodated on the next available flights in the coming hours,” the company said.

“The plane landed normally – this was not an emergency or priority landing. Both engines remained operational throughout the flight.”

It comes after a Qantas service from Auckland to Sydney was forced to issue a mayday after an engine failure on Wednesday and another Sydney to Fiji service on Thursday turned back due to possible mechanical issues.

Transport safety investigators have since confirmed they will analyze the cockpit voice recorder and flight data from the Auckland to Sydney flight following the engine failure.

The pilot of QF144 – a Boeing 737 – shut down the engine and made a distress call over the Pacific before landing safely at Kingsford Smith Airport in Sydney at around 3:30 pm.

Passengers reported turbulence on the flight but said they were not aware of an emergency alert until they landed.

– MONKEY