Air NZ emergency: 'It was terrifying'

Air New Zealand has said that a bird strike was one possibility for the engine fault on a Boeing 767-300ER. Photo / Supplied

Just after takeoff and only 600m in the air, Air New Zealand passenger Lorna Trass knew something was wrong.

"There were flashes of light which looked like lightning, then we heard three big bangs on the wing of the plane and it was shaking a bit," she said.

Mrs Trass was one of 206 passengers on Perth-bound flight NZ175, which made an emergency landing at Auckland Airport yesterday afternoon after a problem with the left engine forced the captain to shut it down.

Passengers reported flames and smoke coming from the engine and loud banging and shuddering.

A full emergency was declared and police and fire crews rushed to meet the plane, which landed safely without further problems.

The Boeing 767-300ER took off at 2.25pm for its eight-hour flight, but was back on the ground half an hour later.

"It was terrifying," said Mrs Trass. "A flight attendant got on the intercom and said with a very, very shaky voice - she seemed very nervous - that something had happened to one of the engines."

Air New Zealand said a bird strike was one possibility for the engine fault.

Last night, engineers were inspecting the aircraft to establish the cause.

The airline said the captain briefed passengers after he made the decision to land - "including explaining that any flame seen from the engine is not unusual when it is shut down in flight".

Passengers were accommodated in hotels to await their flight, which was rescheduled to take off at 1am today.

Jordan Frewin, seated in seat 16E, said the flight was terrifying. "That was the scariest experience ... the scariest thing," he said.

"I was absolutely petrified. We weren't aware of what was happening ... There was a thump, like turbulence but more than normal, and a bit of a bang."

Mr Frewin said the seatbelt signs came on and he felt the plane tilt.

"Then we could feel it turning around and we came back through the clouds and we were in Auckland again."

Justin Simpson said that within minutes of taking off, there was a "bang, shudder".

"It was bit freaky but amazing how quiet everybody was," he told the Herald.

Mr Simpson also posted on his Facebook page: "I was on that flight ... scary just after flaps went up BOOOOM flames then I'm sure I saw Jesus."

Christchurch woman Rosemary Tierney and her son were on their way to Perth for two weeks to escape the earthquakes in their hometown.

"It was the last thing we needed," she said. "We were just trying to get away and then this happened."

After the "big bangs" the plane's television screens cut out and everything went quiet.

Janet Johansen was travelling to her daughter's 40th birthday in Perth and said: "It was very scary and nerve-racking."

Another passenger told 3News: "I looked out the window and there were flames coming out the back."

* An Air NZ domestic flight carrying 54 passengers from Christchurch to Invercargill made an emergency landing at Dunedin Airport last night after instruments indicated smoke in a cargo hold.

Fire crews inspected the aircraft when it landed at 8.50pm and found no smoke or fire. An instrument fault is suspected.