A Regional Express plane was forced to make an emergency landing on the NSW South Coast on Thursday night after one of the plane's engines caught fire during the flight, firefighters say.
Fire and Rescue NSW crews were called to Merimbula Airport about 8.15pm on Thursday after receiving an emergency call that one of the Saab 340 aircraft's engines had been disabled in a blaze.
The plane had originally taken off in Sydney at 6.45pm on Thursday and had landed as planned in Moruya, before the fire broke out on the second leg of the flight from Moruya to Merimbula.
About 20 passengers were believed to be on board Rex flight ZL139 at the time, as well as crew members. The plane landed safely, and no one was injured.
One passenger, Vicki Hodges, described it as "the most terrifying experience of my life".
"Engine blew up just out of Moruya so flew 40 minutes on one engine. The wonderful pilots got us home safely," she wrote on social media after the plane landed safely.
She also posted the praying emoji, writing: "Did a lot of this".
Flight radar images show the plane circled over the ocean, before landing at Merimbula Airport once emergency crews had assembled.
Fire and Rescue NSW's Eden branch confirmed the emergency response plan was enacted at the airport, and fire crews, NSW Ambulance and NSW Police were all at the scene as the plane landed.
"Emergency services were told prior to the plane landing (the) plane had an engine fire which had been extinguished by the pilots. The plane landed safely and landed as normal. None of the passengers or crew were injured," it said in a statement.
Regional Express has been contacted for comment.
SMH/The Age
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