A Regional Express plane was forced to make an emergency landing at Merimbula Airport on Thursday night after one of the plane's engines caught fire during the flight.
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A Fire & Rescue NSW spokesman said three units were sent to the airport at 8.16pm after they received calls an aircraft with 19 passengers and three crew on board were about to make an emergency landing after an incident in the right engine.
The spokesman said the Rural Fire Service were also called to the scene.
When the plane landed safely at 8.46pm everyone disembarked safely and fire crews established there were no dangerous goods on board.
Upon inspection they found fire damage inside the the right engine.
By activating a system on board the aircraft and shutting down the engine the pilot and crew were able to prevent the fire from spreading, the Fire and Rescue spokesman said.
One passenger, Vicki Hodges, described it as "the most terrifying experience of my life".
"Engine blew up just out of Moruya so flew 40 minutes on one engine. The wonderful pilots got us home safely," she wrote on social media after the plane landed safely.
She also posted the praying emoji, writing: "Did a lot of this".
Flight radar images show the plane circled over the ocean, before landing at Merimbula Airport.
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Greg Ellis
Almost four decades in electronic, print and digital media. A writer, presenter, emcee, photographer and videographer with degrees in business management, marketing and human resources and tertiary qualifications in photography.
Almost four decades in electronic, print and digital media. A writer, presenter, emcee, photographer and videographer with degrees in business management, marketing and human resources and tertiary qualifications in photography.
