A Jetstar flight heading to Thailand had to make an emergency landing shortly after takeoff from Sydney Airport. Flight JQ27 departed for Phuket around 3:20 PM on Wednesday but was back on the ground by 5 PM. According to a Jetstar representative, the Boeing 787 Dreamliner encountered a mechanical issue that prompted pilots to request a priority landing. Emergency services were ready to assist upon the aircraft’s return. Initial reports suggested that the plane’s front tyre exploded during takeoff, but footage from 7NEWS showed engineers inspecting a rear tyre that appeared to be worn. The airline later clarified that one of the ten tyres was damaged but had not burst. Flight tracking data indicated that the plane circled near Richmond in northwest Sydney before flying over the water east of the airport to land. The runway was closed for half an hour to accommodate the landing, and aerial images showed the plane landing smoothly. Fortunately, all passengers were reported safe.
