Passengers evacuated from overheating plane at Cairns Airport

Passengers have been evacuated via slides from a Brisbane-bound plane after it was diverted to Cairns and found to be overheating.

PASSENGERS have been evacuated via slides from a Brisbane-bound plane after it was diverted to Cairns and found to be overheating.

Airport fireys were called in at Cairns Airport Sunday evening after a fire alarm was trigged at the domestic terminal due to an issue with a Qantas plane.

According to a Cairns Airport spokeswoman, the alarm was triggered about 5.45pm for a plane that had been diverted to Cairns Airport on a trip from Port Moresby to Brisbane, Qantas flight QF58

“Everyone at the airport was on standby and ready to receive the plane, which had been diverted due to overheating in the engine,” she said.

“Crews checked out the aircraft and found there was still overheating, so the passengers were evacuated.

“There were no injuries or risk to the passengers or crew, all safety guidelines were followed.”

However, Qantas disputed the claim, saying the engine problem came after the plane was diverted to Cairns for another reason.

“The captain told passengers they were diverting to Cairns due to an air-conditioning issue,” Qantas Corporate Communication senior manager Stephen Moynihan said.

“The engine problem started when the aircraft was trying to take off for Brisbane after engineers had looked at the air-conditioning issue.”

Mr Moynihan said there was no fire and confirmed passengers were evacuated using the slides on the right-hand side of the aircraft.

He said passengers from the flight would be staying overnight in Cairns while they arrange onward travel.

“Our technical teams will be inspecting the aircraft thoroughly to understand what occurred,” he said.

“The safety of our passengers and crew is always our highest priority.”

Helen Quick, the wife of a man who was onboard the plane, said her husband contacted her shortly after the incident.

“All I know is he was rerouted to Cairns from Port Moresby, (he then) boarded again and evacuated via slipper slide with no belongings,” she said.

“He later text and said the plane caught fire at Cairns and in flight from Port Moresby ... He said the air-con was working fine.

“He said from Port Moresby the report was there was an electronic fault.”

Originally published as Passengers evacuated from overheating plane at Cairns Airport