BREAKING: QF32 SIN-SYD suffers engine failure
QF32, an Airbus A380 flying SIN-SYD carrying 432 PAX has returned to SIN after suffering an engine failure over the Indonesian island of Batam.
Initial reports, photography and on-the-ground details are concurring that the left inboard engine suffered a failure, and that parts of the cowling were dislodged and made landfall.
More details as it comes to hand.
Update 1 (11:34 AWST): A
SMH journalist is reporting that QF32 is involved, and despite wire reports has not crashed at all but experienced engine trouble and is en-route to SIN for emergency landing, with all pax safe at this stage.
Update 2 (11:36 AWST):
ABC News has confirmation from an Indonesian official that there has not been a crash, and is a case of engine trouble. They have also attributed original story of plane crashing en-route to SIN to Kyodo news wire.
Update 3 (11:40 AWST):
A photo has been posted online moments ago purporting to show QF32 with smoke coming from the left inboard engine.
Update 4 (11:45 AWST):
Australian Associated Press has quote from QF official on record confirming that reports from Kyodo news wire are incorrect.
Qantas flight QF32 was enroute from Singapore to Sydney, the number two engine has shut down, so as a precautionary measure we are taking it back to Singapore," A Qantas spokeswoman told AAP.
"It should land in about 40 minutes," she said at 1430 AEDT.
Update 5 (11:49 AWST): Earlier photo source has been confirmed,
taken over Indonesia by a member of Airliners.net.
Update 6 (11:51 AWST): As posted by
docjames,
Sydney Morning Herald now has story, and is stating that Reuters reported a claim that QF stated to CNBC that the A380 had crashed. Witness reports are stating that the plane was over the Indonesian island of Batam when they heard the explosion.
Update 7 (11:56 AWST):
Indonesian television now has pictures of debris at Batam, and according to reports it looks like parts of the engine cowling that have made landfall as a result of the engine failure.
Update 8 (12:01 AWST): Reuters
reporting that Singaporean TV stations confirming that flight has landed at SIN.
Update 9 (12:09 AWST): ABC News
now also confirming Singaporean TV reports that plane landed safely.
Update 10 (12:14 AWST):
Photo purporting to be from PAX aboard flight shows damage to wing surface after plane landed at SIN.
Update 11 (12:22 AWST): A reporter for AFP was
on the ground at SIN as the plane landed, six fire engines attended to the aircraft as it landed.
``I can see smoke coming out of it,'' the reporter said.
