A QANTAS jet from Melbourne to Canberra was forced to make an emergency landing on one engine yesterday after a mid-flight malfunction.

Thirty minutes into the hour-long 3.40pm flight from Melbourne the pilot of the 737-400 alerted the 147 passengers of QF818 that the crew had been forced to shut down one of two engines.

Aviation rescue and fire-fighting services were scrambled at Canberra Airport and waited alongside the runway as the jet was given emergency clearance and landed safely.

Passengers applauded the safe landing after the hair-raising experience.

Qantas spokesman Simon Rushton confirmed the incident this afternoon.

 “QF818 operating Melbourne to Canberra experienced a loss of thrust in one of the two engines around 30 minutes or so into the flight,” Mr Rushton said.

“In these situations, the crew performed a series of checks including a thrust check, and on a basis of those checks made a decision to shut the engine down. He said because the plane was “well on the way” to Canberra the captain elected to continue. Understandably, passengers clapped as the jet safely touched down.

Mr Rushton said Qantas was still investigating what caused the emergency, but expected the 737 to return to service tonight after the suspect engine parts were replaced. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority and Air Services Australia have been advised of the incident.

Source: heraldsun.com.au