Video: Terror for passengers as plane's right engine catches fire

A Singapore Airlines jetliner caught fire after the plane returned to Changi Airport after an engine warning. Passengers have spoken of the terror as they watched the flames from inside the plane.

A Singapore Airlines jetliner caught fire after the plane returned to Changi Airport because of an engine warning, but all the passengers and crew escaped unhurt.

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The airline said the Boeing 777-300ER was on its way to Milan when it turned back "following an engine oil warning message".

It said the aircraft's right engine caught fire after Flight SQ368 touched down more than four hours after takeoff.

Roughly the same view of the plane's wing, after the fire. Picture: AP

"The fire was put out by airport emergency services and there were no injuries to the 222 passengers and 19 crew on board," Singapore Airlines said.

It said the passengers were transferred to another aircraft that was due to depart for Milan later on Monday.

One of the passengers Lee Bee Yee, 43, said: "I just escaped death!!!!"

In a Facebook post, she said passengers were asked to stay on board for five minutes, which she described as "heart-wrenching", while fire crews battled the blaze.

Passengers disembark the plane. Picture: AP