PERTH- Qantas (QF) has addressed an emergency involving flight QF1737 after passengers reported seeing flames beneath the aircraft’s wing as it departed Karratha Airport (KTA) in Western Australia on November 1, 2026. The Airbus A320-232 was scheduled to operate a service to Perth Airport (PER), but the pilots discontinued the departure and returned the aircraft to the parking bay.
The incident prompted the evacuation of passengers before the flight could depart, while images and videos recorded inside the aircraft circulated online. Qantas confirmed that an engine issue had affected the flight shortly before take-off, adding that the aircraft returned safely and all passengers were able to disembark.
QF1737 Abandons Take-Off
Flight QF1737 was scheduled to leave Karratha at approximately 7:15 p.m. local time on Sunday and operate the regional route to Perth. The aircraft was an Airbus A320-232, which passengers reportedly saw emitting flames from the area beneath its wing as it moved along the runway.
Footage shared by passengers showed flames appearing near the aircraft’s engine during the attempted departure. The pilots subsequently discontinued the take-off and brought the aircraft back to the airport bay.
The incident prevented the scheduled service from operating. Although the aircraft returned safely, passengers were required to leave the plane before the airline cancelled the flight.
Qantas Confirms Engine Issue
Following the incident, Qantas confirmed that the aircraft had experienced an engine problem shortly before departure. The airline said the pilots followed established operating procedures and returned the aircraft safely to the parking bay.
The airline did not provide further technical details about the engine issue or confirm the precise cause of the flames seen in the passenger footage. Qantas also apologised to affected travellers and reiterated that passenger safety remained its primary concern.
The aircraft was taken out of service for an engineering assessment. Technicians will examine the engine and determine whether repairs or additional maintenance work are required before the A320 can resume commercial operations.
Passengers Receive Accommodation
The cancellation disrupted the travel plans of passengers who were scheduled to reach Perth that evening. However, Qantas arranged overnight accommodation for those affected and worked to secure alternative travel arrangements.
Passengers were booked onto the next available service to Perth on Monday morning, November 2. According to reports, replacement flight arrangements had been organised by approximately 8:20 a.m. local time, the Daily Mail reported.
The airline’s response followed the safe return of the aircraft to the bay, with no injuries reported in the available accounts of the incident. Qantas thanked passengers for their understanding while apologising for the disruption caused by the cancellation.
The incident also highlights the importance of responding to technical warnings before an aircraft enters normal flight operations. The pilots’ decision to discontinue the departure allowed the aircraft to return to the parking area, where passengers could disembark safely.
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