November 4, 2026 — A Qantas Airbus A320 bound for Perth stopped its takeoff run at Karratha on November 1 after passengers reported flames beneath the wing. The flight was cancelled and the aircraft removed from service.
Airline: Qantas (QF) · Australia
What happened
Qantas flight QF1737 was due to leave Karratha (KTA), Western Australia, for Perth (PER) at about 7:15 p.m. local time on Sunday, November 1, 2026. Passengers said they saw flames under the wing as the A320-232 moved down the runway, and video they shared showed fire near the engine. The pilots discontinued the takeoff and returned to the stand, where passengers got off. The flight was then cancelled.
Qantas confirmed an engine issue shortly before takeoff and said the crew followed standard procedures. It did not give a cause. The aircraft is out of service while engineers decide on repairs; its registration was not published. No injuries were reported. Passengers were put up overnight and rebooked on the next Perth flight on the morning of November 2. Whether a safety authority has opened an investigation is TBA.
What it means for travelers
- A single aircraft out of service on a thin regional route like Karratha–Perth pushes a whole planeload of passengers onto the next morning’s flights. Seats in the day or two after a disruption like this are scarce.
- On Western Australian resource-sector routes, always have a backup plan, such as a later flight or a confirmed ticket, if you must be in Perth by a set time.
- The return date for the affected A320 is TBA. Watch for possible swaps or smaller aircraft on Qantas Group regional WA flying this week.
Sources
- Aviation A2Z: Qantas Cancels Perth Flight After Airbus A320 Engine Fire Scare Forces Passenger Evacuation
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