A Garuda Indonesia B747 aircraft has been forced to make an emergency landing after one of its engines caught fire shortly after takeoff.
The incident occurred on May 15, 2024, when flight GA 1105 was scheduled on a pilgrimage flight from Makassar Sultan Hasanuddin International Airport (UPG) in Indonesia to Medina Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Airport (MED) in Saudi Arabia.
Video clips shared by airline crash data evaluation company JACDEC on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) show that one of the aircraft’s four engines started emitting flames as the plane lifted from the runway.
According to a report by the Aviation Herald, the Number 4 engine emitted a loud bang followed by streaks of flames as the aircraft was rotating for departure. The jet continued to take off and climbed to a safe altitude before returning to Makassar Airport for a safe emergency landing at 17:15 local time.
A Garuda Indonesia spokesperson confirmed the incident to various local media, stating that the B747-400 immediately returned to the airport of its origin after “fire was observed in one of the engines”. All 450 passengers and 18 crew members were evacuated safely.
Garuda president-director Irfan Setiaputra told the media that the “decision was made by the pilot in command immediately after take-off, considering engine problems that required further examination after sparks of fire were observed in one of the engines”.
Setiaputra said the aircraft will remain grounded as an investigation on the incident is being carried out.
All passengers were provided accommodations before boarding a replacement flight on another B747 aircraft the following day.