Australia-bound Etihad flight makes emergency landing

abu dhabi — An Etihad Airways flight carrying 329 passengers between Abu Dhabi and Sydney was forced to make an emergency landing on Tuesday.

In a statement, Etihad noted that “flight EY450 to Sydney returned to Abu Dhabi shortly after take-off following the failure of one of the aircraft’s engines”.

“The pilots and cabin crew carried out the emergency procedures before landing which they practise regularly during their routine training details,” the statement added. “The crew are to be commended for their calm professionalism which ensured a

The crew are to be commended for their calm professionalism which ensured a safe outcome for all our guests.”

Etihad spokesperson

safe outcome for all our guests.”

Etihad also noted that the aircraft is undergoing corrective maintenance action, and that an alternative aircraft operated the new service. Hotel accommodation was provided for the passengers, who were then re-booked on later flights to Australia.

An Australian newspaper, The Australian, quoted a passenger as saying that the plane’s tyres were severely burnt by the high-speed landing, during which the rims allegedly hit the ground. Another passenger, student Emily Waterson, told The Australian that “everyone was crying and screaming”. “Everyone was holding hands.

“The worst thing was the stewardess opposite me screaming and screaming. I spoke to her afterwards and she said she practises shouting ‘Brace!’ every month, but this was the first time she’d had to do it for real.”

A photo published in The Australian shows passengers standing in the aisles with the aircraft’s oxygen masks deployed.

The accounts published in The Australian could not be independently verified by Khaleej Times.

bernd@khaleejtimes.com