Qantas plane returns to Australia airport, makes emergency landing due to engine failure

A Qantas plane made an emergency landing Friday due to what the airline said was a "contained engine failure" soon after taking off from Sydney Airport, sparking a grassfire on a nearby runway and causing several flights to be diverted.

The Qantas flight, QF520, was bound for Brisbane and was circling for a "short period of time" before landing safely back at Sydney Airport, Qantas Chief Pilot Captain Richard Tobiano said in the statement.

There was no initial word on the number of people on board.