By Another Boeing Jet Makes Emergency Landing After Engine Fire
A Garuda Indonesia Boeing 747-400 passenger plane carrying 468 people was forced to make an emergency landing shortly after takeoff due to an engine fire. The incident occurred on Wednesday as the aircraft was traveling from Makassar, Indonesia, to Madinah, Saudi Arabia.
Upon observing fire in one of the engines, the pilot in command made the decision to return to the airport of origin immediately. Garuda Indonesia confirmed that the plane landed safely back in Makassar.
All 450 passengers, including those embarking on the Hajj pilgrimage, and 18 crew members were safely evacuated from the aircraft. No injuries were reported in connection with the incident.
JACDEC, a plane crash data evaluation firm, shared videos on social media showing flames emanating from the engine just as the plane took off. The footage provided a clear visual representation of the severity of the situation.
Garuda president-director Irfan Setiaputra confirmed that the decision to return to the airport was made by the pilot due to engine problems that required further examination. The plane has been grounded pending an investigation into the cause of the engine fire.
The affected passengers were provided with accommodation before being placed on a replacement flight later the same day, ensuring they could continue their journey to Saudi Arabia.
The incident is the latest in a series of safety issues that have plagued Indonesian carriers. The country’s airlines were previously banned from flying into the United States and European Union countries from 2007 due to safety concerns. The ban was lifted by the US in 2016 and by the EU in 2018.
According to the Aviation Safety Network, Indonesia has recorded 106 civilian airline accidents since 1945, resulting in the deaths of 2,305 people. The nation’s aviation industry has faced scrutiny over its safety record.
In January 2023, two pilots of a Batik Air flight allegedly fell asleep in the cockpit for 28 minutes, causing the plane to veer off course. The flight, carrying 153 passengers, was traveling from Sulawesi to Jakarta.
In 2021, a Sriwijaya Air flight crashed into the Java Sea shortly after takeoff from Soekarno-Hatta Airport, killing all 62 passengers and crew members on board.
The emergency landing of the Garuda Indonesia Boeing 747-400 due to an engine fire highlights the ongoing challenges faced by the Indonesian aviation industry in ensuring the safety of its passengers. The incident underscores the importance of thorough investigations, maintenance, and adherence to safety protocols to prevent future accidents and restore confidence in the country’s airlines.
