（联合早报网讯）亚航一架从澳大利亚柏斯飞往吉隆坡的班机，今天起飞90分钟后由于剧烈摇晃而折返。机上乘客指飞机当时“摇晃得像洗衣机”。飞机过后在柏斯机场安全降陆，并向机场表示出现“技术问题”。
柏斯机场发言人告诉法新社：“飞行员确认出现技术问题并折返机场。”他说，机场派出紧急应变人员以防万一，但最后并未动用这些人员。亚航只表示“机组人员正对飞机采取预防性检查措施”。
这架亚航飞机是空中客车A330型飞机。这是澳洲本周第二次有这款飞机出现状况。中国东方航空一架同款客机6月11日晚间从悉尼飞往上海时，起飞后由于发动机故障而紧急折返迫降。
Passengers on an AirAsia flight forced to turn back after leaving Perth have told of a terrifying ordeal in which an engine possibly failed.
Flight D7237 departed just before 7am WST (11am NZDT) on Sunday for Kuala Lumpur with 359 people on board and was about 90 minutes into the flight when the pilot identified what AirAsia says was a technical issue.
AirAsia is investigating the incident, but says there is no indication it was an engine issue.
However passengers said the captain announced there appeared to have been an engine seizure on the left side of the aircraft.
Passenger Sophie Nicolas described the terrifying ordeal, saying she could tell it was “really bad” judging by the cabin crew’s reaction.
“He (flight captain) said `I hope you all say a prayer, I will be saying a prayer too and let’s hope we all get back home safely’,” she told reporters.
A lot of people were crying and everybody burst into applause when the plane landed safely, she said.
Brenton Atkinson said the plane started vibrating and shaking after what sounded like a small explosion.
“It was literally like you were sitting on top of a washing machine,” he told ABC radio.
“You could see the engine out the window which was really shaking on the wing.
“It was a little unnerving, everyone handled it pretty well, no one freaked out too much.”
Passengers were ordered to get into the brace position for landing.
The plane landed in Perth at about 10am. An airport spokesman said fire and emergency services were called to meet the plane as a precautionary measure, but no one appeared to have been hurt.
AirAsia said the plane had returned due to a “technical reason”.
“The safety of our guests are our utmost priority,” the airline said in statement.
“Flight crew are taking precautionary measures to check the aircraft and some guests onboard the flight will be transferred to the next available flight today.”
Marine Rescue Services were also put on stand-by by police to prepare for a water landing off the WA coast.