Parkes, Australia: A Regional Express (REX) Saab 340B turboprop flight was forced to divert and make an unscheduled landing at Parkes Airport (NSW) on February 22 after the crew shut down one of its engines following electrical and engine indications.
Flight ZL6469, operating from Griffith to Sydney, was at around 13,000 feet when the crew detected an electrical fault on the right side of the aircraft, accompanied by abnormal engine readings from the No. 2 (right) General Electric CT7-9B engine. Following standard safety procedures for engine and systems abnormalities, the pilots elected to shut down the affected engine mid-flight and declared a diversion to the nearest suitable airport.
The twin-engine turboprop then entered holding patterns south of Parkes before descending and landing safely on Runway 04 approximately 75 minutes after the issue was first identified. All passengers and crew disembarked without injury, with emergency response teams on standby as a precaution.
The aircraft involved in the incident, registered VH-RXE, is part of REX’s Saab 340 fleet, a workhorse on Australia’s regional network. Following the diversion, the aircraft was taken out of service for detailed inspection and maintenance checks and was returned to scheduled service roughly 36 hours later, according to operational updates.
In line with aviation safety protocols, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has been made aware of the occurrence and awaits additional technical data from the operator before determining whether a formal investigation will be undertaken. Officials have indicated that such decisions hinge on further review of flight data and systems information provided by REX.
In-flight engine shutdowns, while uncommon, are addressed in flight crew training and aircraft certification standards. Twin-engine turboprop aircraft such as the Saab 340 are designed to maintain controlled flight and safe landings on a single functioning engine when necessary.
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