Horrifying moment plane engine panel comes off mid-air and begins to flap dangerously just inches from the propeller

THIS is the horrifying moment a plane engine panel came off mid-air, sending passengers into a frenzy.

Terrifying footage taken from inside the plane shows the panel flapping dangerously - just inches away from the propeller.

The ATR 72-600 plane got into trouble shortly after taking off from Kaohsiung International Airport on Friday morning.

Dramatic footage shows the metal panel of the aircraft flapping violently in the wind - leaving the engine exposed.

And for one nail-biting moment sparks can be seen flying as the panel comes within inches of the rotating propeller.

Passengers reportedly raised the alarm when the plane began to shake out of control.

The pilots quickly declared an in-flight emergency and returned the aircraft to Kaohsiung

One panic-stricken passenger said: "Not long after take off, the plane started shaking.

"Everyone looked out the window and began shouting for the flight attendants.

"The scariest part was that the flight attendants didn't say anything, but their eyes looked terrified.

"That scared me even more."

An investigation has been launched to determine what caused the mechanical failure.

This comes after a police plane crashed into the sea in Thailand, leaving at least five people dead.

The aircraft was caught on camera nosediving into the water before reportedly being split in two upon impact.

Officials confirmed the plane was just over 300ft off shore at the time of the fatal plummet.

Only one passenger is believed to have survived the horror smash, according to a spokesperson from the Royal Thai Police.

Four died upon impact with their bodies being recovered by emergency crews as a fifth was declared dead in hospital.