Australia and New Zealand Face Record Emergency Landings as Reports Reveal – Unthinkable Risks Exposed!

Published on December 4, 2025

Airlines operating in Australia and New Zealand carry millions of passengers each year over vast distances and through challenging weather. Despite rigorous maintenance and crew training, rare situations require unplanned return or diversion to ensure passenger safety. Emergency landings are carefully managed events: pilots follow established procedures, aviation authorities monitor communications, emergency services stand by and crews update passengers. The following chronicle summarises major emergency landings and air-turn‑backs involving commercial flights or notable small‑aircraft incidents in Australian and New Zealand cities from January 2021 through November 2025. Each description is based on statements from airlines, aviation authorities or emergency services. While some events were highly publicised, they were resolved without injuries and demonstrate the aviation sector’s commitment to safety.

2021: Early incidents and a beach landing

In May 2021 a single‑engine recreational aircraft carrying three people, including a baby, reported engine failure shortly after departure and made a controlled landing on a beach north of Sydney. Officials reported that the pilot deliberately chose the sandy shoreline to avoid built‑up areas and that emergency services found all occupants uninjured. The aircraft was later removed from the beach, and the incident was investigated by aviation safety officials[1].

On 6 October 2021 an Air New Zealand flight from New Plymouth to Christchurch experienced a smoke‑like haze in the flight deck shortly after take‑off. The cockpit crew donned oxygen masks, declared an emergency and landed safely at Christchurch at 7:55 am. Fire and Emergency New Zealand dispatched crews but they were stood down when the aircraft landed uneventfully. The airline later said the “momentary haze” was quickly resolved and all passengers disembarked normally[2].

2022: Low‑fuel mayday over Western Australia

On 18 July 2022 a Qantas Boeing 737‑800 operating flight QF933 from Brisbane to Perth became embroiled in extensive holding delays as other aircraft queued to land in turbulent conditions. To ensure priority, the crew radioed a fuel mayday while still carrying reserve fuel; aviation procedures dictate that a mayday must be declared if predicted fuel at landing falls below required reserves. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) opened an inquiry and later noted that the crew landed in Perth with fuel reserves intact[3]. Qantas told media that the pilots made the correct decision, that the aircraft had loaded fuel in accordance with Civil Aviation Safety Authority rules and that there was never a safety issue[4]. The incident highlighted how fuel‑declaration protocols are designed to give aircraft priority rather than indicate danger and underscored industry transparency about routine operational decisions.

2023: Engine failure and technical returns

Engine failure over the Tasman Sea

On 18 January 2023 passengers aboard Qantas flight QF144 from Auckland to Sydney experienced a mid‑air engine failure when one of the Boeing 737‑800’s engines shut down. The pilots issued a mayday call – the most serious distress signal – to secure priority landing in Sydney. By the time the aircraft approached the coast, the mayday had been downgraded to a PAN (indicating a less severe issue). The aircraft landed safely on one engine. Qantas later explained that the mayday ensured emergency services would be ready and reassured passengers that twin‑engine jets are designed to operate safely on a single engine[5]. Airservices Australia explained that mayday and PAN calls are standard triggers for priority handling and do not imply imminent danger[6].

Series of technical turn‑backs

In the days following the QF144 incident, other Qantas aircraft conducted precautionary returns. On 19 January flight QF101 from Sydney to Nadi (Fiji) returned to Sydney after cockpit instruments indicated a potential mechanical issue. The airline stated that pilots opted to turn back as a precaution while still near Sydney and that there was no safety risk[7]. At least three other flights in January 2023 turned back due to minor faults. Aviation regulators noted that such decisions are routine, emphasising a conservative safety culture and robust crew training[8].

Hydraulic concern in Queenstown

On 10 November 2023 an Air New Zealand Airbus A320 operating from Queenstown to Auckland alerted authorities to a suspected hydraulic issue. Police and airport officials placed emergency services on standby, but the aircraft continued its flight and landed at Auckland at 11:07 am. Emergency vehicles followed the aircraft along the runway; no problem with the landing gear or brakes occurred and passengers disembarked normally. Airport representatives praised the crew for following procedures and noted that emergency services were present as a precaution[9].

2024: Bird strike, security incident and contained engine failure

Bird strike sparks engine fire

On 17 June 2024 a Virgin Australia Boeing 737‑800 on flight VA148 from Queenstown to Melbourne suffered an engine fire shortly after take‑off. Witnesses reported flames coming from the right‑side engine, and cockpit instruments indicated an issue. The crew declared an emergency, shut down the affected engine and diverted to Invercargill – the nearest suitable airport. Virgin Australia’s chief operations officer said a possible bird strike may have caused the fire and praised the crew for following training[10]. Queenstown Airport officials confirmed there were 67 passengers and six crew on board and that there were no injuries. Passengers were offered transport to Invercargill and later flights, and the incident prompted discussions about bird‑hazard management[11].

Security concern on a trans‑Tasman flight

On 19 October 2024 Air New Zealand flight NZ247 from Wellington to Sydney experienced a security incident when a passenger made concerning remarks. The crew followed security protocols and notified authorities. Emergency services met the Airbus A321 at Sydney; passengers disembarked and were re‑screened while the aircraft was inspected. Air New Zealand’s operational integrity and safety chief said standard security processes were followed and emphasised the airline’s zero‑tolerance approach to unruly behaviour[12]. The Australian Federal Police later said there was no threat to the community[13]. The return flight to Wellington was cancelled to allow thorough checks.

Contained engine failure on take‑off

On 8 November 2024 Qantas flight QF520, another Boeing 737‑800, departed Sydney for Brisbane and experienced a loud bang and vibration immediately after rotation. Passengers reported seeing flames and smoke, and the captain advised that a contained engine failure – a type of failure in which parts remain within the engine casing – had occurred. The pilots shut down the affected engine and returned to Sydney, landing on a single engine. Fire crews extinguished a small grass fire near the runway started by engine debris. Qantas’ chief pilot commended the crew’s professionalism and noted that contained failures are rare but are managed through thorough training[14][15]. Airservices Australia confirmed the grass fire was quickly controlled and there were no injuries[16]. The airline launched an investigation into the engine failure and pledged support for passengers[17].

One‑engine landing after technical issue

Earlier in 2024 another Qantas Boeing 737‑800 flight, QF781 from Melbourne to Perth, experienced engine vibration and abnormal indications during climb. The pilots manually shut down the affected engine and requested a priority landing in Perth. The airline later said the aircraft is designed to fly safely on one engine and praised the crew for following procedures[18]. Passengers described feeling the aircraft shaking but the landing was uneventful. The incident underscored the redundancy built into modern airliners and the rigorous training of flight crews.

2025: Technical incidents and precautionary returns

Hydraulic failures and technical issues on trans‑Tasman flights

On 24 October 2025 Air New Zealand flight NZ211, an Airbus A320neo travelling from Christchurch to Sydney, suffered a hydraulic failure mid‑flight. Flight crews worked through checklists, notified air traffic control and continued to Sydney where emergency services met the aircraft. The airline’s chief safety and risk officer said the aircraft landed safely and engineers would inspect it[19]. The hydraulic system issue meant that braking and steering systems relied on backup systems, but the aircraft stopped normally. Another flight, NZ221 on the same route, suffered a technical fault that day. Emergency vehicles again met the aircraft on arrival as a precaution; the airline said it landed safely and was taken out of service for inspection[20]. These events reinforced the importance of redundant systems and ground response planning.

Adelaide airport incidents

Adelaide experienced two significant events in October and November 2025. On 8 October 2025 a Regional Express (Rex) Saab 340B preparing for flight ZL4818 from Adelaide to Broken Hill rejected take‑off when cockpit instruments indicated an abnormal condition. When the crew shut down the left engine, residual fuel ignited briefly; fire crews responded and passengers and crew evacuated. Airport authorities closed the runway for 20 minutes while the fire was extinguished. Rex explained that there was no sustained engine fire and that passengers were re‑accommodated on other flights[21]. The national transport safety investigator was notified.

On 11 November 2025 Qantas flight QF1972, an Embraer E190 operated by Alliance Airlines, departed Adelaide for Canberra with 64 passengers. Soon after take‑off, smoke was detected in the cabin. The captain declared a PAN (priority assistance needed) and returned to Adelaide. The aircraft landed safely; passengers disembarked and engineers inspected the aircraft[22]. Airport management praised the professionalism of the crew and emphasised that clear communication to passengers minimised panic[23].

Brake fire on arrival in Brisbane

On 6 November 2025 a Virgin Australia Boeing 737‑800 on flight VA454 from Darwin to Brisbane landed normally but then experienced a fire in one of the wheel assemblies as brakes overheated. Airport firefighters extinguished the blaze quickly. Virgin Australia commended its crew and the firefighters for their swift response and noted that safety of guests and crew is always the airline’s highest priority[24]. The aircraft was removed from service for inspection while passengers proceeded to the terminal.

Lessons and conclusion

The incidents outlined here span five years and involve various airlines, aircraft types and causes. They range from small‑plane engine failures to commercial jet engine fires, hydraulic system faults and low‑fuel declarations. Several common themes emerge: crews acted decisively, following checklists and training; priority calls such as mayday and PAN were used to secure immediate support; and emergency services prepared for worst‑case scenarios but rarely needed to intervene. Passengers were kept informed and, in all cases summarised, there were no serious injuries or fatalities. These outcomes highlight the resilience of modern aviation: redundant systems allow aircraft to fly safely on one engine, and robust communication protocols ensure that resources are marshalled quickly.

Publicity surrounding these events sometimes prompts alarm, yet official investigations and airline statements consistently emphasise that precautionary returns are part of normal safety culture. The rare engine failures and system faults described here were contained and investigated. Each incident further refines safety procedures and underscores the collaboration between pilots, airlines, air traffic control and emergency responders. For travellers in Australia and New Zealand, the record of safe outcomes from emergency landings between January 2021 and November 2025 should offer reassurance that the aviation system responds effectively when things do not go to plan.

Reference list

1. AP News report on a small plane landing on a Sydney beach and statements from officials about the engine failure[1].
2. VisionSafe summary of the October 2021 Air New Zealand flight with cockpit haze and Fire and Emergency response[2].
3. ATSB statement on Qantas flight QF933’s fuel‑declaration event and Qantas’ explanation of procedures[3][4].
4. ABC/SBS coverage of Qantas flight QF144’s engine failure and Airservices explanation of mayday and PAN calls[5][6].
5. SBS report on Qantas turn‑backs and QF101’s precautionary return to Sydney[7][8].
6. 1News article on the Queenstown–Auckland flight with suspected hydraulic issues[9].
7. ABC and Crux reporting on the Virgin Australia flight VA148 engine fire due to possible bird strike[10][11].
8. 1News report on the Air New Zealand NZ247 security incident and statements from Air New Zealand and Australian Federal Police[12][13].
9. SBS, Reuters and Airservices information on Qantas flight QF520’s contained engine failure and grass fire at Sydney[14][15][16][17].
10. Business Insider coverage of Qantas flight QF781’s one‑engine landing and Qantas’ statement about safety redundancy[18].
11. SimpleFlying and 1News articles on Air New Zealand flights NZ211 and NZ221 suffering hydraulic/technical issues in October 2025[19][20].
12. ABC News reporting on Rex flight ZL4818’s aborted take‑off at Adelaide and REX’s explanation[21].
13. ABC News and Adelaide Airport statements on QF1972’s smoke incident and PAN call[22][23].
14. ABC News report on Virgin Australia VA454’s brake fire upon landing in Brisbane[24].