Media Talk Africa: Latest Headlines in Politics, Business, Sports, and More

A Boeing plane made an emergency landing in Indonesia on Wednesday due to an engine fire, the news coming as the company grapples with controversy over safety issues.

The plane, which Garuda Indonesia operated, had just taken off from Makassar when the plane’s engine caught on fire, the New York Post reported Thursday.

The outlet noted that there were 468 passengers on board the jet, which was headed for Saudi Arabia.

Video footage shows the plane racing down the runway when what appears to be flames burst from its tail end:

2001 built Garuda Indonesia Boeing 747-412 aircraft (ER-BOS), powered by PW PW4056 engines, experienced engine fire while taking-off from Makassar's Sultan Hasanuddin airport (UPG) earlier today (15 May).

The aircraft was operating flight GA1105, when the no.4 engine snag forced… pic.twitter.com/w1aPHsI3iN

— FL360aero (@fl360aero) May 15, 2024

Following the incident, Garuda President Irfan Setiaputra said, “The decision was made by the pilot in command immediately after take-off, considering engine problems that required further examination after sparks of fire were observed in one of the engines.”

No one suffered injuries during the ordeal, but investigators are now looking into what exactly happened.

Boeing 747-400 catches fire, forced to land on flight from Indonesia to Saudi Arabiahttps://t.co/Ky5oVdR7BJ

— FOX Business (@FoxBusiness) May 17, 2024

A similar instance happened on May 10, when a Boeing 737 plane returned to Japan’s Fukuoka Airport during an emergency landing because its wing flap experienced an “irregularity,” Breitbart News reported, adding it was a United Airlines flight travelling to Guam.

“Authorities said no one among the 50 passengers and crew was hurt, and, reportedly, there was no fire,” the article noted.

Japonya’nın Fukuoka Havalimanı'ndan kalkan United Airlines'a ait bir yolcu uçağı, "flap" arızası nedeniyle havalimanına dönerek acil iniş yaptı.

Yolcu ve mürettebattan yaralanan olmadı. pic.twitter.com/rkcWrmwUSm

— Yeni Journal (@yenijournal) May 10, 2024

According to AFP, Boeing is supposed to hold a meeting with shareholders on Friday, which may not be smooth sailing. The outlet said investors will vote on if CEO David Calhoun should be removed from the board and keep a compensation package.

“Calhoun, who has faced tough questioning in the wake of a near-catastrophic Alaska Airlines flight in January, will step down as CEO at the end of 2024 but has been renominated to the board of directors,” the article said.

“Advisory services firm Glass Lewis wants shareholders to reject Calhoun’s nomination, while Investor Shareholder Services (ISS) has recommended a ‘no’ vote on Calhoun’s compensation package, which came in at about $33 million for 2023,” it added.