This was the second safety incident for the airline since one of its Airbus A380 aircraft made an emergency landing due to engine failure.

The incident followed a media report that Rolls-Royce Company may need to replace another 29 A380 engines, threatening airlines with further flight disruptions while the engine maker provides replacements.

Just two days after the A380 incident, a Qantas Boeing 747 was forced to make an emergency landing in Singapore following engine failure.

Qantas said the flight, with 220 passengers and crew, landed safely.

The incident, due to an electrical fault in a cockpit instrument, added to pressure on Qantas as it tries to maintain its image as one of the world's safest airlines.