Virgin Australia Flight Makes Emergency Landing After Engine Fire

Suspected bird strike forces Boeing 737-800 to divert to Invercargill, New Zealand, with no injuries reported.

Engine fire erupted shortly after takeoff from Queenstown, New Zealand, bound for Melbourne, Australia.
Passengers and crew reported hearing loud bangs and seeing flames from the right engine.
The plane landed safely at Invercargill Airport, approximately 120 miles from Queenstown.
Virgin Australia and emergency services praised for their handling of the incident.
Bird strikes are a known risk, with varying consequences depending on aircraft and bird size.