'There was complete silence' when pilot on Xi'an-S'pore Scoot flight announced turnaround
A Scoot flight from Xi'an to Singapore had to turn around 20 minutes after take-off due to technical problems.
According to Shin Min Daily News, Scoot flight TR135 was originally scheduled to take off from Xi'an Xianyang International Airport in Shaanxi at 1.35 am on Feb 23 and arrive in Singapore at 7.35am.
However, it had to land at Xianyang Airport at 1.56am, and all passengers and crew on board were evacuated safely.
Many passengers posted on social media, with some claiming the engine was on fire just after take-off.
One of the passengers was quoted by the Chinese daily as saying: "I saw the engine light up like a rocket, and I was scared to death."
Videos circulating online showed passengers sitting in shuttle buses provided by the airport.
Outside the window, there were many technicians busy walking around the Scoot fuselage on the apron, and there were also several fire and ambulance vehicles waiting at the airport.
According to local media reports, Xi'an Xianyang International Airport initiated an emergency response.
A Scoot spokesperson confirmed that there was no engine fire, and emergency services were activated as a precautionary measure.
As on-site engineers needed more time to resolve the issue, Scoot decided to cancel the flight and provide necessary assistance to all passengers on board, such as arranging hotel accommodation and local transportation.
The Straits Times reported that Singaporean passenger Ng Xinyu, who was travelling with her friend Nigel Seah, sensed something was amiss when a "flickering red effect" appeared on the ceiling.
When the pilot announced that the plane would return, "there was complete silence, except a Singaporean family who was consoling one another", said Ms Ng, 28.
Scoot said all passengers were given full assistance on the ground, including providing them with hotel accommodation and ground transport.
They were rebooked on another flight departing Xi'an for Singapore on Feb 24.
The airline said: "Scoot sincerely apologises for the disruption and inconvenience caused."
"The safety of our customers and crew is our top priority."
On Jan 11, a one-hour Scot flight from Malacca to Singapore was delayed for nine hours and later cancelled after a problem with a fuel tanker at Malacca airport caused the aircraft to be unable to refuel.
Less than a month before, Scoot flight TR469 from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore turned a one-hour flight into a 22-hour nightmare with persistent technical issues.