Experts probe why AirAsia X plane from Gold Coast was forced to divert to Brisbane

AUSTRALIA’S peak transport safety body will investigate why an AirAsia X flight from the Gold Coast to Kuala Lumpur was forced to make an emergency landing in Brisbane overnight.

This picture taken by Calvin Boon on July 4, 2017 shows fire rescue personnel beside the starboard engine of an AirAsia Airbus A330, after the aircraft on flight D7207 made an emergency landing at the Brisbane International Airport. Photo: Calvin Boon

AUSTRALIA’S peak transport safety body will investigate why an AirAsia X flight from the Gold Coast to Kuala Lumpur was forced to make an emergency landing in Brisbane on Monday night.

The airline released a statement claiming a “bird strike” to the plane’s starboard engine was thought to have caused the damage that forced the terrifying turnaround.

There have been about 200 birdstrike incidents near Gold Coast Airport in the past three years but none have been subject to an Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) investigation.

Safety Inspectors look over the engine of Air Asia flight D7207 at Brisbane Airport in Brisbane, Tuesday, July 4, 2017. An AirAsia flight from the Gold Coast was diverted to Brisbane after a bird strike allegedly caused loud bangs and sparks to come from an engine. Picture: AAP/Darren England

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority confirmed plover carcasses were found on the runway where flight D7207 took off around 10.20pm on Monday night.

“There was evidence on the runway of a birdstrike,” Spokesman Peter Gibso said.

But the ATSB said the incident was still “classified as an engine failure” and would be the subject of an investigation.

Passenger Tim Jago said he saw flames coming from the engine shortly after take-off.

He described hearing about five “pops” and said the aircraft shuddered.

“I think it was the engine shutting down and starting back up,” the 31-year-old New Zealander said.

This picture taken by Calvin Boon on July 4, 2017 shows fire rescue personnel beside the starboard engine of an AirAsia Airbus A330, after the aircraft on flight D7207 made an emergency landing at the Brisbane International Airport. Photo: Calvin Boon

Mr Jago said the mood on the plane was “tense but calm” during the brief flight.

After the plane landed late at Brisbane, passengers had to wait until about 2am on Tuesday before being taken to hotels.

The 345 passengers and 14 crew aboard were uninjured.

Central Queensland University Accident Forensics and Investigation expert Geoffrey Dell said it was rare that a bird strike would do enough damage to force an aircraft to land.

Air Asia flight D7207 sits on the tarmac at Brisbane Airport in Brisbane, Tuesday, July 4. Photo: AAP Image/Darren England

But the academic said planes could be crippled by birds and there was little air safety authorities could do to prevent the phenomenon.

“Usually there are not any serious consequences ... it depends on a lot of factors,” he said.

“You can be in all kinds of strife. What do you do about it? Aerodromes are close to cities which are usually in coastal areas so there’s usually lots of birds.”

In the past 12 months the ATSB recorded 53 bird strike incidents within a 25km radius of the Gold Coast Aerodrome.

The damaged engine of Air Asia flight D7207 at Brisbane Airport in Brisbane. (AAP Image/Darren England)

In the previous year, 86 incidents were recorded and in the year before that there were 65.

It is unknown how far from Gold Coast Airport AirAsia flight D7 207 was when it allegedly hit birds.

Tugun local Blake Edwards said he thought he heard the plane after take-off.

“(It) had a strange whirring sound,” he said. “I watch planes quite regularly and have not heard anything like it.”

This picture taken by Calvin Boon on July 4, 2017 shows fire rescue personnel beside the starboard engine of an AirAsia Airbus A330, after the aircraft on flight D7207 made an emergency landing at the Brisbane International Airport. Photo: Calvin Boon