Scores of passengers on board the SA Express flight SA1412 from East London to Johannesburg this morning had a near death experience when one of the plane engines failed just after take-off, forcing the flight to return back for an emergency landing.

According to some of the frightened passengers, the flight was supposed to depart the East London Airport at 6.45am, but was delayed for more than an hour and 40 minutes due to a technical problem.

Passengers on board told the Dispatch that they were informed by the pilot that there was an issue with the plane’s circuit-breaker.

They said during their waiting period while already on board, the flight tried “a numerous times” to take off, but had to be “switched on and off a number of times due to this technical problem”.

It eventually took off from the local airport at around 8.20am, but just moments later, a loud bang was heard by passengers, while the plane’s speed and momentum dropped, forcing its pilot to return back to the airport for an emergency landing.

This after it had to circle above the nearby sea for over 45 minutes, while it later did a couple of rounds in the air above the airport for more than five minutes when its landing gear apparently also failed to kick-off.

Panicking and loudly praying passengers on board claim that their pilot had informed them while on air that the loud bang was as a result of the left-hand side engine’s failure.

In preparing for an emergency landing, passengers claim that they were asked to take off their shoes, spectacles and ties.

The incident was yesterday confirmed by SA Express’ acting CEO Matsietsi Mokholo who said the airline have made alternative arrangements to transport the affected passengers to their intended destinations and that they were cooperating with the South African Civil Aviation Authority in investigating the cause.