German airline Lufthansa says one of its passenger planes experienced an engine problem shortly after take-off in Finland and had to return to the Helsinki airport. Some passengers told local media they heard an explosion.
Lufthansa spokesman Christian Gotttschalk today said that the Airbus A321 plane was bound from Helsinki to Frankfurt with 168 people aboard.
He says the aircraft had problems with one of its two engines, but all passengers safely left the plane after landing in Helsinki late yesterday. No one was injured.
A photo published by Finland's YLE showed a fire burning in the left wing of the aircraft and the broadcaster reported that passengers heard an explosion.
Lufthansa declined to deny or confirm those accounts, saying the investigation into the matter was ongoing. Helsinki airport officials provided no further details.
