Vietnam Airlines flight abandons take-off from Melbourne Airport - ABC Local

Updated May 06, 2014 14:07:56

Flights were delayed briefly at Melbourne Airport after a Vietnam Airlines plane bound for Saigon aborted take-off.

The airline said flight VN780 experienced an "engineering malfunction" prior to take-off and the flight was cancelled.

One passenger said he was told the engine had failed as the plane was about to take off.

"The plane aborted take-off, I know it all happens very quickly but it all of a sudden stopped," passenger Peter told ABC Melbourne.

"We were taking off and it just stopped."

Peter said "engine two failed" as the plane was leaving the runway.

The airline apologised for the inconvenience and advised customers to go home and ring the airline later to make new travel arrangements.

Melbourne Airport said the "disabled" A330 caused flight delays for about 40 minutes around 11:00am (AEST) and eight flights were diverted to Adelaide Airport.

An airport spokeswoman said the plane was not on fire and reports elsewhere of sparks and smoke coming from the plane were likely debris from the plane hitting the runway.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau was investigating.

Melbourne couple Steve Lam and Monica Tram had to cancel their honeymoon because of the incident.

Mr Lam was angry about the disruption to their travel plans and said they were "lucky to be alive".

Topics: emergency-incidents, air-and-space, tullamarine-3043

First posted May 06, 2014 11:45:02