Article Reading - Prayers got louder & louder

After a fire broke out on board, a Cathay Pacific Airways Airbus 330 - bound for Jakarta with 136 passengers on board - returned to Singapore safely just before 2am on Monday.

About 20 minutes after take-off, passengers on board the flight heard two sharp bangs. The plane then began shaking violently, according to Reuters photographer Beawiharta, who was aboard the plane with his wife, two sons and daughter.

The lights went out, and Mr Beawiharta could smell something burning.

Cathay Pacific said in a statement: "The aircraft stopped on the taxiway and sparks from the No 2 engine were reported. They were doused by fire extinguishers."

The New Paper 17 May 2011