A Qantas QF122 diversion sent a Boeing 737-800 to Christchurch on September 5, 2026, after witnesses reported loud banging noises and flames from the aircraft’s left engine shortly after takeoff from Queenstown. The flight, carrying roughly 160 passengers and crew, landed safely at Christchurch Airport with no injuries reported.
New Zealand’s Civil Aviation Authority initially attributed the incident to a bird strike, then updated its position to say the cause remains under investigation. Qantas confirmed a “suspected engine issue” and said both engines continued operating throughout the diversion, with no engine shutdown.
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What Happened During the Qantas QF122 Diversion
Flight QF122, operated by a Qantas Boeing 737-800 registered VH-VZQ, departed Queenstown Airport (ZQN) bound for Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport (SYD) on the afternoon of Saturday, September 5. Flight-tracking data showed the aircraft leaving the ground at approximately 4:05 p.m. local time, roughly 40 minutes behind its scheduled 3:25 p.m. departure.
Shortly after becoming airborne over Lake Wakatipu, passengers and people on the ground reported hearing a rapid series of loud bangs and seeing flames coming from the aircraft’s left engine. One witness told Radio New Zealand the noise was loud enough that everyone on the ground turned to look.
The flight crew broke off the climb toward Sydney and turned back toward the South Island. Rather than continuing across the Tasman Sea, the aircraft diverted to Christchurch Airport, the largest and busiest airport on New Zealand’s South Island, touching down safely at approximately 5:07 p.m. local time — just over an hour after departure.
“Our pilots are highly trained to manage situations like this and the aircraft landed safely,” a Qantas spokesperson said.
Qantas said the aircraft experienced a “suspected engine issue” shortly after takeoff and confirmed emergency crews met the flight as a precaution. No injuries were reported among the approximately 160 passengers and crew on board. Qantas said it is arranging accommodation and rebooking affected passengers onto alternative flights.
Why Investigators Are Still Determining the Cause
New Zealand’s Civil Aviation Authority initially told media the flight had experienced a bird strike shortly after takeoff. The authority subsequently revised that account, saying the cause of the Qantas QF122 diversion remains under investigation rather than confirmed as a bird strike.
Qantas has not identified a specific cause and described the event only as a suspected engine issue. Both engines continued running throughout the diversion, and no engine shutdown occurred, according to reporting on the flight’s tracking data and airline statements. Further technical findings from the investigation have not been made public.
Engine fires and compressor stalls following bird strikes can produce visible flame and loud banging as unburned fuel ignites in the exhaust — a dramatic but generally survivable failure mode that modern twin-engine airliners are certified to handle on a single engine.
About the Boeing 737-800 and the Trans-Tasman Route
The Boeing 737-800 is a Next Generation variant widely used by Qantas on shorter international and domestic routes, typically seating between 160 and 180 passengers depending on configuration. Queenstown Airport sits at high elevation and is surrounded by mountainous terrain, requiring specific approach and departure procedures that most South Island airports do not.
Qantas operates regular Christchurch-Sydney services, making Christchurch a practical and well-equipped diversion point — as it proved during the Qantas QF122 diversion.
FAQ: Qantas QF122 Engine Fire
What caused the Qantas QF122 engine issue?
New Zealand’s Civil Aviation Authority initially cited a bird strike but has since said the cause remains under investigation. Qantas has confirmed only a “suspected engine issue.”
Why did the flight divert to Christchurch instead of continuing to Sydney?
The crew chose not to continue the trans-Tasman crossing after the engine event. Christchurch, the South Island’s largest airport with regular Qantas service to Sydney, offered the nearest suitable diversion point.
Were there any injuries?
No injuries were reported among the approximately 160 passengers and crew on board. Qantas said it is arranging accommodation and rebooking for affected passengers.
Looking Ahead
New Zealand’s Civil Aviation Authority has not set a timeline for confirming the cause of the engine incident. Qantas has not said when a technical inspection of VH-VZQ will be complete or when the aircraft will return to service. The Aviation Diary will update coverage of the Qantas QF122 diversion as investigators release further findings.
Sources
- Karmactive — Qantas QF122 Engine Flames: NZ CAA Walks Back Bird Strike
- Archyde — Sydney-bound Qantas flight diverted to Christchurch over engine issue
- Simple Flying — “Sounded Like Gunshots”: Qantas Boeing 737 Diverts After Engine Flames Over Queenstown
- Newsy Today — Qantas Plane Lands Safely in Christchurch After Engine Flames on Takeoff
- Aviation Today — Qantas Flight Diverts to Christchurch After Engine Flames Seen Shortly After Takeoff
- Time News — Qantas Boeing 737 Diverts After Engine Flames Seen on Takeoff
