KLM responds to plane’s engine failure

A KLM plane was forced to turn back to OR Tambo International after experiencing technical problems

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines has responded for the first time over flight KL592 that had to return to OR Tambo international, one hour into flight. KLM's general manager in South Africa, Yeshwant Pawar, says the cause of the engine failure was a fire.

He says it is unclear where the fire started, but that it happened in engine 1. All passengers and 18 crew members are safe. The plane was on its way to Amsterdam when the pilot announced to 419 passengers that an engine had failed and that they have to return to Johannesburg.

Flight KLM 592 took off after midnight last night. Passengers were accommodated at local hotels. When asked about their experience, they said they were not scared at all.