Etihad plane in emergency landing as engine fails

An engine failure forced an Etihad Boeing 777 airliner to make an emergency landing in Abu Dhabi shortly after taking off for Sydney, the airline said Wednesday.

Flight EY450 was forced to return to the United Arab Emirates capital on Tuesday morning following a malfunction with one of the engines, according to the carrier.

"The pilots and cabin crew carried out the emergency procedures before landing which they practice regularly during their routine training details," a spokesperson said.

"The crew are to be commended for their calm professionalism which ensured a safe outcome for all our guests."

Etihad is one of the fast-growing Gulf carriers that have seized a sizable proportion of transcontinental travel capitalising on their geographical locations.

Etihad operates a fleet of 123 Airbus and Boeing planes, with 179 others on orders for delivery before 2025.

In May, 31 Etihad passengers were injured when an Airbus A330-200 experienced "severe and unexpected" turbulence just before landing in Jakarta.