A pair of backpackers have criticised AirAsia as “useless” after a trip that began with “downright terror” as flames flew from their plane’s engine and then became  an ongoing nightmare of delays, unbudgeted  expenses and lost luggage.

Jake Marshall and Kelly Sewell, both 25, believed they were moments from death before Flight D7 207 made an emergency landing in Brisbane on Monday night.

“I was sitting within sight of the engine flames, and accepted the fact that we were about to die,” Mr Marshall told The New Daily.

“Other people on the plane had gone hysterical. There is legitimate concern people may have severe PTSD, and people’s holidays have been ruined.”

After 50 hours of travel and four flights, the couple finally landed in Hanoi, Vietnam – only to be told their luggage had been lost.

Mr Marshall complained AirAsia had been “useless” and “frankly, embarrassing”.

On Thursday, the couple was told their bags had been found. But the frustration was not over.

“After a half-hour taxi ride to the airport, we find that only my bag is there. They cannot even tell us what country Kelly’s is in,” Mr Marshall told The New Daily.

The UK couple, from Cornwall, have been travelling since March. Photo: supplied

He said they tried to complain, but were repeatedly fobbed off. The New Daily has seen screenshots of conversations Mr Marshall has had with AirAsia staff which shows his repeated requests for assistance.

“We have been going around in circles for over 30 hours and feel like AirAsia are treating us as an embarrassing inconvenience that if they ignore will simply go away.”

On Friday afternoon, Ms Sewell was told her bag had been found in Kuala Lumpur and would arrive in Hanoi on Saturday (AEST).

Mr Marshall said the taxi to the airport and back to retrieve his bag cost about £25 (AU$42.65). They will need to take the return trip again to pick up Ms Sewell’s luggage.

“We have just been told to ‘fill out an e-form’ and they will process it to see if we’re owed money,” Mr Marshall said.

The emergency landing

Loud bangs were heard and sparks could be seen flying from the engine of flight D2 707 on Monday night, after departing the Gold Coast for Kuala Lumpur. An AirAsia spokesperson said two birds are suspected to have been sucked into the engine.

The plane landed safely in Brisbane at 11.33pm. All 345 passengers were accommodated in a hotel overnight, before being transferred to flight D7 689 to Kuala Lumpur the next evening.

Mr Marshall said some passengers instead returned home and canned their holiday plans.

Air Asia X #D7207 Gold Coast-Kuala Lumpur (A330 9M-XXT) diverted to Brisbane at 1310UT today with engine trouble: https://t.co/72NjnieqHx pic.twitter.com/TBzpfeTWhh

— Airport Webcams (@AirportWebcams) July 3, 2017

Passengers spent hours queuing for the replacement flight with no idea of what had gone wrong in the first place. There was not enough communication from AirAsia, the 25-year-old said.

“We got a text in our Ibis Hotel in Brisbane with the new flight details, and that a coach would pick us up. We had to ask the Ibis reception what time the coach was getting there.

“Before taking off from Brisbane, the captain said a few words about how this was a different plane, but apart from that they seemed to pretend that nothing had happened,” Mr Marshall said.

“All the passengers looked very nervous and everyone was completely silent as we were taking off.”

Mr Marshall said he would have appreciated an email apologising for the “downright terror” and inconvenience, as well as reassurance they would reach their destinations, and a proper explanation.

The drama came less than a week after the pilot of an AirAsia plane told passengers to “say a prayer” when an engine issue forced the A330 to return to Perth.

The couple, from Cornwall in southwest England, has been working and travelling in New Zealand since March. They plan to leave Hanoi for Sydney in early August, before returning to the UK in time for Christmas.

The New Daily has contacted AirAsia for comment.

Thay was quite an experience seeing the engine on fire. #airasia #neardeath #fire Floght #D7207 #breaking

— Hippie Tim (@hippie_tim) July 3, 2017