May 31st 2024.
One passenger aboard a Jetstar flight in New Zealand recently had a terrifying experience when the plane unexpectedly slid off the runway. Emergency services were quickly alerted to the incident, which occurred at Christchurch Airport on the South Island early Friday morning at around 7:45 am. The airport confirmed that the plane involved was a Jetstar aircraft that had just arrived at its destination.
Passenger Diana Clement, who was on board flight JQ225, described the event as "so scary." She was seated in the aisle near the front of the plane when the unexpected occurred. "There were strange noises coming from the right engine and then, according to the gentlemen sitting next to me, we suddenly swerved onto the grass," she recalled. The plane then swerved again and came to a stop at a 45-degree angle on the runway, where it remained for about five minutes before accelerating and finally coming to a halt.
"It all happened very quickly, but in that moment it felt like an eternity," Clement said. Fortunately, there were no injuries reported among the passengers or crew. A spokesperson for Jetstar explained that after landing in Christchurch, the aircraft experienced a steering issue, causing it to veer off the runway at a low speed.
Following the incident, the plane was towed to the gate and all passengers were able to disembark safely. The main runway at Christchurch Airport was temporarily closed but was reopened by 10:40 am after a thorough inspection and cleaning. The Transport Accident Investigation Commission has also given the all-clear for the runway to be used again.
Meanwhile, the airport remained open throughout the morning, although all airfield operations were halted until the crosswind runway was reopened at 9 am. Another passenger, Karin Small, shared her experience with Radio New Zealand, saying she had no idea anything was wrong until the landing. "I've never been on a plane that that's happened to before," she said. "It skidded out and then took off again and then landed on the grass and then the fire people came."
Thankfully, the swift response from Fire and Emergency New Zealand meant that the situation was under control and no longer posed a threat. The airport's website showed that several domestic flights had been affected by the incident, with some being cancelled or delayed. The Civil Aviation Authority has been made aware of the situation and is conducting initial inquiries, while Jetstar has also notified the Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority, under which it operates.
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