Rex flight lands safely at Merimbula on one engine

A Regional Express (Rex) plane from Sydney via Moruya has landed safely tonight at Merimbula Airport – ZL139.

Vicki Hodges was on board and posted to Facebook, “I have just had the most terrifying experience of my life flying home from Sydney on REX ZL139.”

“Engine blew up just out of Moruya so flew 40 minutes on 1 engine. The wonderful pilots got us home safely.🙏🙏🙏Did a lot of this.”

Local crews from Bega Valley Rural Fire Service and Fire and Rescue NSW were in attendance.

“The emergency response plan for airport emergencies was activated and, once emergency agencies were in place at the airport, the aircraft made a successful landing with one engine shut down,” a spokesperson for Fire and Rescue NSW Eden says.

“Emergency services were told prior to the plane landing, that the plane had an engine fire which had been extinguished by the pilots.

“None of the passengers or crew were injured, a large contingency of emergency services attended the call, FRNSW three appliances, RFS three appliances, NSW Police and NSW Ambulance service where at Merimbula Airport.”

Firefighters checked the faulty starboard engine with a thermal imaging camera and declared the aircraft safe.

“An excellent job by flight crews averted a more serious incident,” says a spokesperson for Fire and Rescue Merimbula.

NSW Rural Fire Service Far South Coast Team Manager, Superintendent John Cullen, says volunteers were happy to support the Fire and Rescue NSW operation.

“Everyone was home at that time of night, so there was a good quick response from all the agencies, and thankfully a good outcome,” he says.

The flight appears to have circled above the ocean off Tathra for a period of time, perhaps dumping fuel ahead of landing.

Passengers on tomorrow mornings flight are reportedly receiving messages to say the flight has been canceled.

No further details are known, Region Media will follow up with Rex and the Civil Aviation Safety Authority.

In the meantime, the community is rejoicing a happy outcome.

Comments on About Regional Facebook:

Robert Jennings, “Well done guys, you are always a pleasure to fly with.”

Marjorie Stares, “Glad everyone is ok. Great landing by the pilot and crew. Great job to the fire and rescue crews.”

Mara Roberts, “So glad all are safe. We had an aborted landing at Canberra this afternoon due to the wind. That was scarey enough.”

Paul Zeller, “Turboprops like the Saab 340 are designed to fly with one engine but I highly doubt they would want to fly on one engine for too long.”

Charles Aggenbach, “Yeah thought so… seen it come in and you could tell it didn’t have the same sound it normally does.”