“Sounded Like Gunshots”: Qantas Boeing 737 Diverts After Engine Flames Over Queenstown

Passengers onboard a Qantas flight from Queenstown Airport (ZQN) to Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport (SYD) ended up in Christchurch Airport (CHC) on Saturday, September 5, after the airplane was spotted with flames coming out of the engine shortly after takeoff. Subsequent reports confirmed that this was caused by bird strike as the Boeing 737-800 departed the picturesque tourist resort in New Zealand’s South Island.