Society

Report: China flight returns due to fire

(Agencies)
Updated: 2010-09-19 19:55

SINGAPORE - A Singapore newspaper reports that a China Eastern Airlines flight bound for Shanghai had to return to Changi International Airport five minutes after take off because of a fire on one of the plane's wings.

The report in the Straits Times on Sunday said flight MU568 safely returned to Singapore shortly after it took off Friday. It said none of the 229 passengers on board were harmed.

A Changi Airport spokesman was not immediately available to comment.

A passenger told the Straits Times' sister publication Lianhe Wanbao that she saw flames on the plane's left wing. Other passengers said they smelled smoke as the plane was getting ready to take off. They said after take off they heard three loud noises before the plane turned around.