AirAsia pilot calls on passengers to 'pray' amid engine trouble on flight
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}An AirAsia flight headed for Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia was forced to turn back to Perth, Australia on Sunday morning following a severe engine problem.
Passengers described the wild ride as being like “a washing machine” with rapid shaking and rattling following a “huge bang” that took place around 75 minutes into the six-hour journey. The shaking, framed as something of an “engine seizure,” was reported to have been so violent that the pilot – even with 44 years of experience – called on passengers to “pray.”
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{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Passengers were also asked to “keep an eye on” the engine outside their window, as the pilot did not have a good view from the cabin.
No one was injured during the terrifying trip on the budget airline, although marine emergency services north of Perth were placed on standby incase a water landing was required, Australia’s local ABC reported.
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{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The exact cause of the engine issue remains unclear.
“Passengers were attended by our ground staff upon landing and were provided with all necessary assistance,” AirAsia said in a statement following the incident. “Our engineers are taking the precautionary steps to check the aircraft.”