Malaysia Airlines jet forced to dump fuel, make emergency landing after 'engine fire'

A Malaysia Airlines passenger jet was forced to make an emergency landing in Melbourne today after a reported engine fire within minutes after taking off.

Flight MH148, bound for Kuala Lumpur, departed from Melbourne Airport at 2.16pm local time but had to turn back after an engine fire alert went off in the cockpit.

The Airbus A330 had to dump fuel – a standard procedure before an emergency landing.

Local media reported there were 300 people onboard.

“There was an emergency declared, there was an ‘engine fire’ alert in the cabin,” a spokeswoman at Air Services Australia said.

“The plane proceeded to dump the fuel and returned to land and it landed safely at the aviation rescue sites.”