Concerning find after Qantas flight’s engine failure sparks runway fire

Pieces of metal have been found near a runway after a Qantas flight suffered engine failure last week.

Brisbane-bound QF520 made an emergency landing at Sydney Airport on Friday afternoon after it experienced “contained engine failure”.

Passengers on-board the flight reported hearing a loud bang.

The plane circled and landed safely back at Sydney Airport with 174 people on board.

More than 10 flights were cancelled following the incident, with departure delays averaging 45 minutes at the airport.

A grass fire was sparked a short time later next to the runway.

Fire and Rescue NSW flocked to the area to extinguish the blaze.

Airservices Australia’s Aviation Rescue and Fire Fighting Service Superintendent Mark Jenkins told ABC firefighters found pieces of metal in the grass near the runway.

“They were finding small little pieces of metal but we couldn’t say that was from that actual aircraft,” Superintendent Jenkins said.

“It’s very unusual that you’d have particles of metal all the way along the runway down the side.”

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau is investigating the incident.