A Jetstar flight that was headed for Thailand made an unexpected emergency landing just hours after takeoff. The aircraft, designated as Flight JQ27, departed from Sydney Airport towards Phuket around 3:20 PM on Wednesday but was back on the ground by 5 PM. A spokesperson for Jetstar reported that the Boeing 787 Dreamliner experienced a mechanical issue, prompting the pilots to request a priority landing. Emergency services were on standby to meet the aircraft as a precaution. Engineers are currently investigating the cause of the mechanical problem. Initial reports suggested that the front tyre of the plane may have exploded during take-off, but footage from 7NEWS showed engineers inspecting the rear tyre, which appeared to be worn. The airline later clarified that one of the ten tyres was indeed damaged during the takeoff, but it did not burst. Flight tracking data indicated that the plane circled several times near Richmond in northwest Sydney before heading over water to the east of the airport for its landing. The runway was closed for half an hour to facilitate the landing. Chopper images captured by 7NEWS showed the plane landing smoothly, and thankfully, all passengers on board were reported safe.
