China Airlines cargo plane aborts flight, makes precautionary emergency landing after engine problem

A China Airlines 747 cargo plane circled and dumped fuel before returning to Taoyuan International Airport after reporting an engine problem shortly after take-off today, January 16.

China Airlines cargo flight CI-5240 took off from Taoyuan Airport at 11:45 am bound for Anchorage, Alaska. According to a United Daily News report, airport ground crew reported hearing an explosion and seeing flames shoot from the outside right engine of the four-engine plane during take-off. A pilot in another plane waiting for take-off also witnessed the incident.

China Airlines said that after take-off a problem was found with the No.4 engine. The other three engines were operating normally, and the aircraft could fly safely. However, based on safety considerations the flight crew, according to standard operating procedures, circled over the ocean and dumped fuel before returning and landing at 1:12 pm. CAL said that a full inspection of the aircraft will be carried out immediately.

A video of the plane landing with smoke coming from the engine was uploaded to social media this afternoon.

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