AN ENNISCORTHY woman was among a dozen passengers questioned after a series of fires occurred on her flight home from Australia.

The woman, who wishes to remain anonymous, was among 12 passengers locked up in Abu Dhabi for 30 hours after enduring the horror flight.

She was detained in the UAE capital after a series of fires were lit aboard an Etihad flight from Melbourne to Abu Dhabi.

The pilot was forced to divert to Jakarta after two fires were lit in the cabin toilets.

Indonesian ground crew said burned tissue paper in one of the toilets appeared to be the source of the smoke.

The aircraft was allowed to continue to Abu Dhabi, and despite cabin staff guarding the toilets, a third fire was lit about two hours from landing as breakfast was being prepared.

Those on the aeroplane took to social media to describe their terror, saying they woke up to a loud alarm, a flashing red light, rushing crew members and smoke.

Twelve of the 254 passengers and crew, including the Enniscorthy woman, were detained upon arrival in Abu Dhabi as authorities investigated the case.

They were held for additional questioning and offered hotel accommodation, but opted to stay together and were kept in the airline’s first-class lounge, according to Etihad. It said consular officials from Australia, the United Kingdom and Ireland visited them.

Etihad Airways said police have been unable to find the person who lit fires on the flight.

The airline said it has been advised that local security authorities have concluded their investigation and no one has been charged.

Full story in this week’s Echo.