A Jetstar flight headed to Thailand encountered a critical situation shortly after takeoff, leading to an emergency landing back in Sydney. The aircraft, identified as Flight JQ27, departed Sydney Airport for Phuket at approximately 3:20 PM on Wednesday but returned around 5 PM. According to a Jetstar spokesperson, the Boeing 787 Dreamliner experienced a ‘mechanical issue’ prompting the pilots to request a priority landing. Emergency services were on standby as a precaution. Initial reports suggested that the front tyre had exploded during takeoff; however, on-site footage revealed engineers attending to the rear tyre, which showed signs of wear. Although the airline confirmed that one of the ten tyres was damaged, it did not burst. Flight tracking data indicated that the plane circled several times near Richmond in northwest Sydney before making its way over the water and landing safely. The runway was temporarily closed for about thirty minutes to facilitate the landing process. Fortunately, all passengers aboard were reported safe, and the airline has stated that engineers are investigating the cause of the mechanical issue.
