Passengers terror as plane 'shakes like washing machine' before 'loud explosion' as crew and pilot PRAY for safe landing

Passengers on an AirAsia flight were left petrified after the pilot was forced to turn round the plane when the aircraft 'shook like a washing machine' an hour and a half into its journey.

Terrified crew reportedly prayed for a safe landing after the Malaysian-bound flight returned to Perth after the engine seized up.
Passenger Brenton Atkinson told ABC News the plane had been shaking 'pretty bad' before they heard a small explosion.

The 24-year-old said: "The whole thing, the plane started vibrating and shaking pretty bad, and we had to turn round and come back.
"It was literally like you were sitting on top of a washing machine.

"It was essentially engine failure, that's what they told us anyway."
Flight D7237, which departed shortly before 7am Sunday morning from Perth Airport, and was heading to Kuala Lumpar, landed back in Perth at 10am.

When passengers disembarked Ben said he realised "one of the blades had actually come off the turbine".
Perth teachers Damos Stevens and Mitch Jamieson filmed themselves sitting on the aeroplane as it shook through the air.

Damos is heard on the video, which shows the harsh vibrations of the plane, saying: 'We'll be having 60million beers when we get back'.
He told Daily Mail Australia the pilot had told passengers to 'say a prayer for us', as the plane returned to Perth.

Passenger Sophie Nicolas described the ordeal as "terrifying".
"I could just tell by the cabin crew's reaction that it was really bad," she said.

"I was crying a lot, a lot of people were crying, trying to call their mums and stuff but we couldn't really do anything just wait and trust the captain."
A statement from AirAsia said passengers were attended to by ground staff and 'all necessary assistance' was being provided.
They said: "The safety of our guests are our utmost priority."