Qantas plane returns to Sydney airport after takeoff

A QANTAS plane bound for Thailand has been forced to return to Sydney shortly after taking off.

A QANTAS flight bound for Thailand has returned to Sydney shortly after takeoff due to an engine issue.

The Bangkok-bound QF23 took off from Sydney about midday on Friday and circled over western Sydney for up to 20 minutes before heading back to the airport.

LIVE: Qantas flight circling Western Sydney for the last 20 minutes. Our chopper is following the aircraft. #9News https://t.co/oEdgKL0Oto

— Nine News Sydney (@9NewsSyd) June 1, 2018

Monitoring @qantas QF23 SYD-BKK which started circling over Sydney’s west, soon after take-off. No info as to why just yet. @7NewsSydney pic.twitter.com/sH86WOOGES

— Jason Morrison (@JasonMorrisonAU) June 1, 2018

In a statement, Qantas said there was an issue with an engine and the aircraft landed safety at Sydney airport without incident an hour after taking off.

Engineers inspected the Airbus 330-303 after it landed.

“Emergency service vehicles were on standby as is normal procedure,” the airline said in a statement.

A @Qantas plane has returned safely to @SydneyAirport after suffering mechanical issues. QF23 departed Sydney bound for Bangkok at midday, and landed an hour later. #Qantas #7News pic.twitter.com/DPETEuFWph

— 7 News Sydney (@7NewsSydney) June 1, 2018

#qf23 lands at @SydneyAirport with fire trucks following @newscomauHQ @dailytelegraph pic.twitter.com/mJvbgdYIts

— Ryan Northover (@RyanNorthover) June 1, 2018

“Passengers will be re-accommodated on another aircraft departing for Bangkok later

this afternoon.

“We thank our customers for their patience and understanding.”

Flight radar captured the Qantas flight circling several times over western Sydney before making its way back to its departure airport, an hour after taking off.

#QF23 QANTAS A330-303 aircraft VH-QPI with undercarriage problem reported has landed safely. pic.twitter.com/NJ94Xg1ktc

— The Media Circus (@MediaCircus123) June 1, 2018

Originally published as Qantas plane returns to Sydney airport after takeoff