Air Asia flight forced to turn around after engine failure

An Air Asia flight en route to Kuala Lumpar was forced to return to Perth this morning over a technical issue with the aircraft, believed to be a single engine failure.

A spokesman for Perth Airport said the Air Asia flight left Perth just before 7am today.

The pilot identified a technical issue with the A330 airbus on flight D7237 more than an hour into the journey and turned back to Perth. It landed safely at 10am.

PerthNow understands there was a single engine failure.

The spokesman said that Fire and Emergency Services had been called to meet the plane, as a precautionary measure, but there was no indication anyone had been hurt.

VIDEOS IN THE LINK BELOW

A spokeswoman for Air Asia could not comment on claims more than 350 people were on board.

Passengers said they heard a bang about 8.30am and then the plane started shuddering.

Sophie Nicolas said she heard a small explosion from the left wing.

“You could tell by the cabin crew’s reaction that it was really bad,” she said.

She said the Captain then announced the plane would be returning to Perth.

“He said ‘I hope you all say a prayer, I’ll be saying a prayer too and let’s hope we all get back home safely,” she said. “It was terrifying.”

Father of three Dave Parry said after the bang, a smell similar to an engine seizing wafted through the cabin for a minute or two.

“I had a sense the plane was turning and then the Captain announced that it appeared the left engine had seized,” he recounted.

“He said ‘we don’t know the details of why, we will get back to you’.”

Passengers near the left engine were asked to tell cabin crew if they saw what happened or any problems with the left engine.

Passengers were asked to stay calm and reminded of safety procedures. They practised the brace position for landing during the seemingly interminable journey back to Perth.

Another passenger said the pilot warned them the return journey would be slower because they had the power of only one engine and to try to limit the shuddering.

Mr Parry said the most frightening time was the minutes they waited in the brace position as the plane came in to land as they could not see what was happening.

After the plane landed safely, everyone on board applauded the pilots.

“The Captain did a very good job, he was reassuring and then we landed safely,” one man said.

Once they landed they were told a blade had sheared off the left engine.

VIDEOS: Air Asia flight forced to turn around after engine failure | Perth Now

Chemical leak stops traffic in Melbourne

Chemical leak stops traffic in Melbourne

Ethanol has been slowly leaking for more than five hours from two damaged containers in Melbourne as emergency services work to stem the flow.

The containers ruptured just before 8.30am on Monday when the truck that was carrying them struck a tree branch on Williams Road at South Yarra causing the containers to move and tip over.

“They’ve (the containers) tipped on their side and they’re slowly leaking,” MFB commander Dan Gatt told AAP.

“We can’t use a forklift because of the chance of rupturing one of the containers”.

While the ethanol level is deemed safe to the neighbourhood, the liquid is highly flammable and could spark if ruptured by a forklift.

A recovery vehicle is on its way to suck the ethanol from the two damaged containers.

The truck had 12 containers filled with 1000 litres of ethanol each on board, plus eight barrels of alcoholic liquid.

Residents have been advised to open their doors and windows if they notice a chemical smell inside their homes.

Traffic is being diverted from Williams Road between Bruce Street and Toorak Road.

Ethanol is a clear and highly flammable liquid often used as a fuel.

Source: Chemical leak stops traffic in Melbourne | Perth Now

Australia’s worst Pedophile Priest Gerald Risdale hit with 20 new charges

The harm caused by Australia’s worst pedophile priest Gerald Francis Ridsdale is still being felt, a victims’ advocate says.

The former Victorian Catholic priest has admitted to abusing more than 60 children, but the true number could be as high as 1000.

Ridsdale, 82, on Thursday pleaded guilty to 20 new charges including rape, buggery and indecent assault against another 11 victims between 1962 to 1988.

‘I plead guilty to all charges as presented,’ Ridsdale told the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court…

Source: Pedophile Priest Gerald Risdale hit with 20 new charges | Daily Mail Online

British Muslims: “We will turn Buckingham Palace into a Mosque!” – YouTube