A technical problem has forced a Qantas plane to make a dramatic emergency landing in Western Australia.
Flight QF1613, a Fokker 100 aircraft, took off from Geraldton for Perth about 9am on Friday but turned around near Arrowsmith after about 45 minutes.
“The captain grabbed the microphone and said, ‘There’s a vibration on the left side of the plane, so stay calm and we’re going back to Geraldton for an emergency landing,'” passenger Loic Foison told the station. ABC after the plane landed safely.
Mr Foison said the situation was ‘stressful’ and the plane was dropping in altitude and passengers could see through the windows that it was ‘very close to the ground’.
‘It was really strange. Everyone was calm. Nobody spoke. Quite calm, but very anxious.’
Fellow passenger Mathilda Tricoire said at one point she assumed the plane would land in remote WA countryside because it was flying so low.
Qantas said in a statement that the aircraft had a minor technical problem and would be investigated before being cleared to return to service.
Passengers were rebooked on alternative flights on Friday.
The Qantas Fokker 100 aircraft (pictured is the same model at Perth Airport) landed safely on Friday morning
The flight turned around about 45 minutes after takeoff and made a circular pattern before landing back in Geraldton.