A Regional Express plane had to make an emergency landing at a south coast airport after one of its engines reportedly caught fire mid-flight.
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Fire and Rescue NSW crews were called to Merimbula airport about 8.15pm on Thursday after receiving an emergency call that one of the Saab 340 aircraft's engines had stopped as the result of a fire.
Spokesman for the Civil Aviation Safety Authority Peter Gibson told The Daily Advertiser that the aircraft had a mechanical problem with the right engine.
The engine was shut down and the plane had "a safe landing on one engine", Mr Gibson said.
About 20 passengers were reported to have been on flight ZL 139, which had originally taken off in Sydney at 6.45pm on Thursday and had landed as planned in Moruya, before the fire broke out on the second leg of the flight from Moruya to Merimbula.
Fire and Rescue NSW's Eden branch confirmed the emergency response plan was enacted at the airport, and fire crews, paramedics and police were all at the scene as the plane landed.
"Emergency services were told prior to the plane landing (the) plane had an engine fire which had been extinguished by the pilots. The plane landed safely and landed as normal. None of the passengers or crew were injured," it said in a statement.
In its own statement, the airline said the flight "experienced a cockpit indication associated with the aircraft's right engine en route to Merimbula".
"In accordance with company standard operating procedures, the pilots carried out the prescribed procedures and landed safely and without further incident at Merimbula airport at 8.42pm," it read.
"The safety regulator has been notified and given all available information."
This incident comes six just weeks after CASA investigated - and cleared Rex of - allegations relating to claims the airline has a poor safety culture.
He said CASA was satisfied it has examined the allegations thoroughly and determined Rex's maintenance systems are up to standard.
Rex is Australia's largest independent regional airline and operating a fleet of more than 50 Saab 340 aircraft on about 1500 weekly flights to 60 destinations throughout Australia.