Air NZ fight returns to AKL.

[Blackadder]

'Ball of flames' shoots from Air New Zealand jet's engine | News.com.au

 

[samh004]

Wonder if it ingested some birds...

 

[Blackadder]

Yes Air NZ spokesperson suggested a bird strike as the likely cause.
Just as well it wasn't QF.

 

[AaronBradford]

To quote the Aviation Herald:

An Air New Zealand Boeing 767-300, registration ZK-NCJ performing flight NZ-175 from Auckland (New Zealand) to Perth,WA (Australia) with 206 passengers and 10 crew, was climbing through 1800 feet out of Auckland's runway 05R when the left hand engine ingested a bird and emitted repeated bangs associated with streaks of flames. The crew shut the engine down and returned to Auckland's runway 05R for a safe landing about 25 minutes after departure and taxied to the apron.

 

[Nigelinoz]

Landed safely,no injuries,all's well that ends well.
But bird strikes can be nasty so it's good that it wasn't more serious.
Cheers
N'oz