Passenger plane lands safely in New Zealand after a fire shuts down an engine  
International

Passenger plane lands safely in New Zealand after a fire shuts down an engine

A passenger plane landed safely at a New Zealand airport on Monday after a fire shut down one of its engines, the nation's fire service said.

Wellington |A passenger plane landed safely at a New Zealand airport on Monday after a fire shut down one of its engines, the nation's fire service said.

The Virgin Australia Boeing 737-800 jet bound for Melbourne, Australia, landed in the New Zealand city of Invercargill after the fire forced a diversion.

Fire trucks met the plane as it arrived in Invercargill about 50 minutes after takeoff from Queenstown, said Lynn Crosson, shift supervisor for Fire and Emergency New Zealand.

The cause of the engine fire and the number of passengers on board the plane were not immediately known, Queenstown Airport spokesperson Catherine Nind said.

Virgin Australia said in an emailed statement that the incident may have been caused by “a possible bird strike”.

Queenstown, with a population of 53,000, is popular tourist destination on New Zealand's South Island, famous for skiing, adventure tourism and alpine vistas.

Kerala University VC sparks row by suspending registrar over event attended by Guv

INDIA bloc leaders oppose before EC special revision of electoral rolls in Bihar

Quad calls for punishing perpetrators of Pahalgam attack without any delay

China rejects the Dalai Lama's succession plan, insists his heir requires its approval

Iran's president orders country to suspend cooperation with UN nuclear watchdog IAEA