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The engine of a Garuda Indonesia Boeing 747 jet caught fire during takeoff, which forced it to make an emergency landing, the New York Post reports.
The plane was traveling from the Indonesian city of Makassar to Saudi Arabia when the incident took place at 5:15 p.m. local time on Wednesday (May 15). Footage of the Boeing 747-400 plane shared on social media showed its engine engulfed in flames as its wheels were lifting off of the runway.
"2001 built Garuda Indonesia Boeing 747-412 aircraft (ER-BOS), powered by PW PW4056 engines, experienced engine fire while taking-off from Makassar's Sultan Hasanuddin airport (UPG) earlier today (15 May). The aircraft was operating flight GA1105, when the no.4 engine snag forced the aircraft to make an air turn back," the aviation news acccount @FL360aero wrote on X Thursday (May 16) morning.
Garuda Indonesia president Irfan Setiaputra confirmed that the plane made an emergency landing in a statement to Agence France-Presse via the New York Post.
“The decision was made by the pilot in command immediately after take-off, considering engine problems that required further examination after sparks of fire were observed in one of the engines,” Setiaputra said.
A total 468 people were on board at the time including 450 passengers, many of whom were traveling on an annual Islamic pilgrimage Mecca, and 18 crew members, though no injuries were reported.
Boeing aircrafts have been reported to have experienced several serious incidents after the door plug panel blew off of an Alaska Airlines 737 Max mid-flight on January 5, which has led to Senate hearings over safety culture and manufacturing quality. Last week, videos shared online showed passengers fleeing a burning Transair 737 plane after it skidded off the runway in Senegal.
Ten more would-be whistleblowers have publicly chastised Boeing over safety inspections after the first two, John Barnett, 62, and Joshua Dean, 45, died mysteriously within weeks of each other.
“These men were heroes. So are all the whistleblowers. They loved the company and wanted to help the company do better,” said Brian Knowles, a Charleston, South Carolina attorney who represented both Barnett and Dean, via the New York Post last week. “They didn’t speak out to be aggravating or for fame. They’re raising concerns because people’s lives are at stake.”