A Virgin Australia flight from Queenstown, New Zealand, to Melbourne was forced to divert to Invercargill Airport following a bird strike that led to an engine fire. The incident occurred shortly after takeoff, with flames reportedly visible from one of the aircraft’s engines.
The Melbourne-bound Boeing 737 NG, registered as VH-YIV, departed Queenstown at 17:59 local time. Within minutes, the aircraft experienced a bird strike, prompting the flight crew to divert to Invercargill Airport, known for its calm conditions and long runway. According to Flightradar24, the flight landed safely at 18:49 local time, just 50 minutes after takeoff.
Official statements and response
Virgin Australia’s Chief Operations Officer, Stuart Aggs, confirmed the incident and praised the crew’s response. “Virgin Australia flight VA148 from Queenstown to Melbourne diverted to Invercargill Airport and landed safely following a possible bird strike on takeoff this evening. The safety of our guests and crew is our highest priority,” Aggs stated.
Emergency services met the aircraft upon its arrival in Invercargill. Thankfully, no injuries were reported among the 73 passengers onboard.
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