An AirAsia flight bound for Bali was forced to circle over Rottnest Island after suffering engine issues shortly after leaving Perth.
Flight QZ545 departed Perth for Bali at 6.30pm Sunday but veered off over the Indian Ocean, circling Rottnest Island, and burning fuel so the plane was a safe weight for landing before landing back just an hour later.
During this time, the lights were completely out in the cabin.
Passengers claim they saw flames shooting from the engine moments before landing.
‘At first we thought it was lightning, but we were on the exit row so we had the full advantage,’ one passenger told 9News.
‘You can see just going bang, and you can see the sort of explosion and the flames.’
The plane was met with fire trucks as it landed at Perth Airport.
A Perth Airport spokesperson said: ‘Passengers were rescheduled onto flights this morning at 3.30am and 6.30am.’
Daily Mail contacted AirAsia and Perth Airport for comment.
Passengers on a flight heading to Bali say they saw flames coming from the engine before the plane had landed
The AirAisa fligth path showed it circling Rottnest Island before going back to Perth
The flight was forced to return to Perth after experiencing engine issues shortly after takeoff
