Jakarta [Indonesia], May 16: The Straits Times reported on May 16 that a plane carrying 468 people of Garuda Indonesia Airlines from Indonesia to Saudi Arabia had to turn back and make an emergency landing after the engine caught fire.
The Indonesian national airline said that flight Garuda-1105 to Madinah city (Saudi Arabia) must return to its origin, Makassar city (Indonesia), at 5:15 p.m. on May 15 (local time). No passengers were injured in the incident.
"This decision was made by the pilot-in-command immediately after takeoff because he believed that engine problems needed further inspection after sparking was observed in one of the engines," according to Garuda president Irfan. Setiaputra.
There were 450 passengers and 18 crew members, including Muslims on pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia. He said they were all moved to temporary accommodation, before boarding a replacement flight the same day to Saudi Arabia .
Video posted on social networks shows the engine catching fire as the plane takes off. Mr. Irfan said the incident is being investigated.
Garuda Indonesia, 60% state-owned, has suffered huge losses during the Covid-19 pandemic and many planes have had to be grounded due to epidemic prevention restrictions, as well as reduced demand, forcing the airline to ground hundreds of aircraft. employee quits.
Indonesia relies heavily on air transport to connect thousands of islands, but there have been several deadly plane crashes in recent years.
In 2021, a Sriwijaya Air passenger plane mysteriously crashed into the Java Sea after taking off from the capital Jakarta, killing all 62 people on board.
In March, the Indonesian Ministry of Transport opened an investigation into local airline Batik Air after discovering that two of its pilots had fallen asleep during the flight.
Source: Thanh Nien Newspaper