SINGAPORE: An unspecified technical issue forced a Singapore-bound Scoot flight to return about 20 minutes after leaving China’s Xian on Feb 23, with some passengers saying they saw “sparks” during take-off.
Responding to queries from The Straits Times, Singapore-based budget airline Scoot said there was no engine fire on flight TR135 and that emergency services were activated at Xian Xianyang International Airport as a precaution.
It said the plane “landed uneventfully” at 1.56am in Xian, and “all customers and crew disembarked the aircraft normally”.
“As engineers on the ground required more time to resolve the issue, a decision was made to cancel the flight,” Scoot added.
The Airbus A321neo plane had departed Xian at 1.33am.
Users on Douyin – the Chinese version of TikTok – said they saw sparks emitted from the plane as it took off.
“I was sitting behind the engine, so I witnessed the engine emitting sparks like a rocket. It’s a pity I did not take a video. I was scared half to death,” said a Douyin account cited by multiple Chinese media outlets including state tabloid The Global Times.
Singaporean Ng Xinyu, who was seated on the right side of the plane with her friend Nigel Seah, sensed something was amiss when a “flickering red effect” appeared on the ceiling.
Shortly after a cabin crew was informed by passengers of the unusual sight, the pilot announced that the plane would return, recounted the Singaporeans.
Ng, 28, said: “There was complete silence, except a Singaporean family who was consoling one another.”
Meanwhile, Seah was a nervous wreck, as the 30-year-old has a fear of flights.
Upon landing, there was a strong smell of fuel, which dissipated quickly, recalled Ng.
Fortunately, the process of disembarking the plane and reaching their accommodation was relatively smooth as staff coordinated every step, the friends said, adding that the travellers were checked in to a hotel by 5am.
Said Ng: “There’s not much inconvenience to me, except that I’ve had to take an extra day off, as we only got confirmation from Scoot in the late afternoon that we can return to Singapore on Monday.”
“But we overheard others being extremely frustrated that they’ve had to miss connecting flights.”
Flight TR135 was originally slated to arrive at Changi Airport at 7.35am, according to the airport’s website.
Scoot said that all customers were provided with assistance on the ground, including providing them with hotel accommodation and ground transport.
They have also been rebooked on another flight departing Xian for Singapore on Feb 24.
The airline said: “Scoot sincerely apologises for the disruption and inconvenience caused.”
“The safety of our customers and crew is our top priority.” - The Straits Times/ANN
