Regional Express says its late night emergency landing at Merimbula Airport on Thursday was not the result of an engine fire.
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Regional Express flight ZL139 operating from Sydney to Merimbula made a dramatic landing around 8.45pm on August 29, with Fire and Rescue NSW brigades and NSW Ambulance crews all called to be in attendance.
Thankfully the aeroplane landed safely with no injuries to any of the 19 passengers and three crew members.
Rex said the flight experienced "a cockpit sensor alert associated with the aircraft's right engine en route to Merimbula".
However, they said their engineers examining the engine Friday have found no evidence of a fire.
"In accordance with the manufacturer's standard operating procedures, the flight crew conducted the applicable checklist actions which included an engine shut down. Upon completion of all the checklist actions, the cockpit sensor alert ceased. The aircraft landed safely and without any further incident at Merimbula airport at 8.42pm.
"Both the Civil Aviation Safety Authority and the Australian Transport Safety Bureau were immediately briefed on the event and will be continually updated on any new information as it becomes available.
"Peter Gibson, of CASA, has stated that reports of a fire in the right engine are probably explained by passengers seeing sparks, but observations this morning don't show the presence of fire."
In a statement from Rex to media outlets, the company said "Mr Gibson further stated that it is not right to link recent allegations relating to Rex to this incident."
READ MORE: CASA says red glow from engine but no fire
"The Saab 340 aircraft is designed and certified to climb, cruise and land safely on one engine which explains why the General Electric engines on the Saab 340 have clocked over 30 million hours with an impeccable safety record."
Meanwhile, the Bega Valley Shire Council thanked Merimbula Airport Management Contractors, local emergency services and Rex's staff and crew "for their swift and professional response to last night's emergency incident at Merimbula Airport".
"Upon receiving notification of the situation with Rex Flight ZL139, the Airport Emergency Plan (AEP) was immediately enacted and the plane safely landed," a council spokesperson said.
"The incident is now the subject of a Civil Aviation Safety Authority investigation, a debrief and review on the incident and the AEP will also be conducted.
"All learnings from this incident will further inform Merimbula Airport procedures, policies and plans moving forward."