Qantas flight diverted after engine flames seen

A Qantas flight from Queenstown to Sydney was diverted to Christchurch on Saturday afternoon, September 5, 2026, after witnesses reported seeing flames and hearing loud bangs from one of the aircraft's engines shortly after takeoff. The airline confirmed the Boeing 737-800, operating as flight QF122, experienced a suspected engine issue and landed safely in Christchurch at approximately 5 p.m. local time, with no injuries reported among the roughly 160 passengers and crew on board. The incident unfolded as the plane climbed out of Queenstown Airport. Multiple witnesses on the ground described seeing intermittent bursts of orange flame from the left engine and hearing a series of loud, explosive noises. Mark Venning told Stuff he was driving along Frankton Road when he heard sharp popping noises, like loud gunshots, and saw orange flames being ejected from the left engine. Brothers Daniel and Campbell Longmire, who were at home in Frankton, also witnessed the event. Campbell Longmire described seeing the left engine "spitting out flames" and noted there were perhaps six or seven flame bursts accompanied by loud bangs.