A Jetstar flight headed for Thailand was forced to make an emergency landing just hours after its departure from Sydney. The flight, designated JQ27, took off for Phuket around 3:20 PM on Wednesday but had to return to Sydney by 5 PM. A spokesperson for Jetstar reported that the Boeing 787 Dreamliner experienced a ‘mechanical issue.’ The pilots swiftly requested a priority landing, and emergency services were on standby for the aircraft’s arrival. Engineers are currently investigating the nature of the problem. Although initial reports suggested that the front tyre may have exploded during take-off, footage captured by 7NEWS showed engineers inspecting the rear tyre, which looked worn. The airline later clarified that while one of the ten tyres was indeed damaged during take-off, it did not burst. Flight tracking data indicated that the plane circled several times near Richmond in northwest Sydney before flying over the water east of the airport and landing safely. The runway at Sydney airport was temporarily closed for about half an hour to facilitate the landing. Aerial footage from 7NEWS showed the plane landing without any apparent issues, and fortunately, all passengers on board were reported to be safe.
