Apia, SAMOA — A Talofa Airways plane experienced engine problems before an incident at Samoa's Faleolo International Airport earlier this week.

Samoa's civil aviation authorities suspended the Apia-based airline's flights pending an investigation.

Talofa Airways chief executive Toleafoa Jeffrey Hunter said the flight from Fagalii to Pago Pago was diverted to Faleolo after the pilot noticed an engine issue.

The right engine was not responding properly to pilot actions and the plane was diverted so the engine could be checked but would not slow down after landing, Toleafoa said.

"The pilot worked the brakes, just enough to help counter the engine but the brakes overheated and burned," he said.

"These things happen, no airline around the world is immune to these unexpected events."

All passengers on the flight were safe, according to Toleafoa.

"Right now we are looking after our customers travel needs and we ask the general public to bear with us."

Some passengers were being booked on flights with Samoa Airways, he said.

"We are still looking at a replacement plane for our second aircraft as this is what happens with a one-plane operation."

An investigation into the incident was likely to take at least two weeks, Toleafoa said.