Singapore Airlines plane catches fire after emergency landing

MANILA, Philippines (3rd UPDATE) – A Singapore Airlines plane caught fire at Singapore’s Changi Airport Monday, June 27, after making an emergency landing, local media reported.

Flight SQ368 was on its way to Milan from Singapore when it turned back to Changi Airport, with the pilot saying there was a leak, the Straits Times newspaper and Channel NewsAsia reported.

The plane, which left Changi at past 2 am Monday, arrived back at 6:50 am, and the plane’s right wing caught fire moments after it landed. 

A video from one of the passengers obtained by the newspaper showed the plane’s wing in flames.

SIA said in a statement the plane was en route when an engine oil warning forced it to turn back to the city-state.

“The aircraft’s right engine caught fire after the aircraft touched down at Changi Airport at around 6:50am,” it said.

“The fire was put out by airport emergency services and there were no injuries to the 222 passengers and 19 crew on board.

“Passengers disembarked through stairs and were transported to the terminal building by bus.”

The airline said passengers would be transferred to another aircraft to depart for Milan later in the day and that it would “be cooperating fully with the authorities in their investigations”.

One passenger posted a harrowing account and a video of the engine fire on Facebook.

The 49-second video clip, apparently shot from a window seat, showed tongues of flame and smoke engulfing the right engine before they were put out.

“I just escaped death!!!!” Facebook user Lee Bee Yee said in a post that accompanied the video clip.

“Our Singapore Airline plane was leaking oil 3 hours flying off and the plane had to turned back. After reaching Changi Airport, as the plane was landing, the engine burst into flames!!!! Huge fire was burning!” Lee wrote.

An SIA spokesman however told Agence France-Presse that the plane was one hour and 45 minutes into the flight when it turned back.

“It was a heart wrenching 5 mins! Waiting for the fire engine and fire fighters to put out the fire! They shot foam and water into the fire and eventually it was put out! We were so close to death!!” Lee added.

“I thank God I am alive! I going home to hug my kids.” –  With a report from Agence France-Presse / Rappler.com