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SIA jet makes emergency return to Changi, bursts into flames on runway

SINGAPORE — About two hours into an early Monday morning flight from Singapore to Milan, Italy, the pilot of Singapore Airlines Flight SQ368 announced over the public address system that the plane would have to turn back.

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SINGAPORE — About two hours into an early Monday morning flight from Singapore to Milan, Italy, the pilot of Singapore Airlines Flight SQ368 announced over the public address system that the plane would have to turn back. 

An engine-oil warning message had been triggered, and the aircraft was returning to Changi Airport for safety reasons. 

“I could feel the vibrations,” passenger Amit Jain recalled. “There was a very strange sound, sort of like a slight screeching noise coming from the plane,” he added. 

The 44-year-old was seated in the business-class section — near the right engine that would eventually catch fire hours later, leading to a runway being closed for about five hours. 

Another passenger on the flight, Ms Lee Bee Yee, told TODAY that she and her husband had noticed a faint fuel-like smell in the economy cabin where they were seated.

At the time, no one was particularly concerned about the announcement, Mr Jain said. The director of IT and enterprise resource planning at a multinational company added: “Half of the passengers were sleeping.”

Mr Jain was awake as the plane landed at Changi Airport at about 6.50am. He did not realise anything was amiss until he caught sight of a convoy of fire engines racing towards the aircraft. 

That was when he realised that the Boeing 777-300ER’s right engine was on fire. “I saw the flames getting worse and worse. By the time the fire engines reached the plane, the flames were about a metre high. I could see the wing turn black from the heat,” he recounted.

Some anxious passengers began removing their belongings from the overhead compartments. 

Others shouted, “Open the doors!” and “Let us out!” as they stood in the aisles, Mr Jain said. Still, the pilot and crew managed to calm the passengers. 

A statement from Singapore Airlines said the fire was put out in minutes by the Airport Emergency Service team. 

“All passengers and crew on board disembarked safely. No injuries were reported,” the statement added. 

The affected aircraft was towed away before a clean-up of the runway began.

Ms Lee, the owner of an e-commerce luxury bags company, posted dramatic footage and photos of the aircraft’s right engine and wing engulfed in flames. She wrote on Facebook: “We were so close to death! I thank God I am alive! I (am) going home to hug my kids.”

Mr Jain said that at one point, he could feel a bit of the intense heat from the flames outside the plane. The passengers were not allowed to leave as firefighters sprayed water and foam to douse the flames.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) said in a statement that a fire was observed shortly after the plane landed. 

Changi’s Airport Emergency Service, which was already on standby, responded and put out the fire within five minutes.  

“The runway on which the aircraft landed was closed for about five hours for repairs and clean-up. Landings and take-offs continued on the other runway. Whilst some flights were impacted, all flights were able to take off within one hour of their scheduled departure times,” a CAAS spokesperson said, adding the authority would investigate the incident. 

The Ministry of Transport’s Air Accident Investigation Bureau will also be conducting an independent investigation.

Ms Lee, who postponed her trip and headed home with her husband after their ordeal, said: “We are very grateful to the air crew and the firefighters. Everyone did a good job.”

A rescheduled flight with a new crew took off for Milan after 10am on Monday. 

It was unclear how many passengers pressed on with their trip. Singapore Airlines said it had offered passengers the option to defer or reschedule their travel.

Mr Jain was one of many passengers who made his way to Milan. Those who boarded the new flight with him did not seem too rattled. 

He told TODAY before boarding the rescheduled flight: “Most of the passengers are in the lounge right now. Snacks being served. People don’t look distressed, at least to me. It’s mostly calm.”


 

Commenting on the incident on Monday, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said he was "relieved" to hear that all the passengers and crew onboard were safely disembarked.

"Thanks to SQ and Changi Airport for the swift response. SQ and CAAS are investigating the cause, and will get to the bottom of the matter," he said.

On Facebook, Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan added that the investigations will also deal with "whether any of our procedures can be improved further".

"Relieved to learn of SQ368 (for Milan)’s safe emergency landing at Changi this morning... Fortunately, all crew and passengers are safe," he wrote.

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