Qantas Flight 72: Difference between revisions
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'''Qantas Flight 72''' (QF72) was a scheduled flight from [[Singapore Changi Airport]] to [[Perth Airport]] on 7 October 2008 that made an emergency landing at [[RAAF Learmonth|Learmonth aiport]] near the town of [[Exmouth, Western Australia|Exmouth]], [[Western Australia]] |
'''Qantas Flight 72''' (QF72) was a scheduled flight from [[Singapore Changi Airport]] to [[Perth Airport]] on 7 October 2008 that made an emergency landing at [[RAAF Learmonth|Learmonth aiport]] near the town of [[Exmouth, Western Australia|Exmouth]], [[Western Australia]] following a "sudden change in altitude".<ref> |
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==Flight details== |
==Flight details== |
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The plane was travelling at {{convert|37000|ft|m}} when pilots received an electronic message of an irregulaity with the elevator control system. The plane climbed {{convert|200|ft|m}} and made two nose-dives.<ref name=oc10>{{cite news | first=Brendan | last=Nicholson | coauthors= | title=Data shows Qantas jet in two sudden plunges | date= | publisher=The Age | url =http://www.theage.com.au/national/data-shows-qantas-jet-in-two-sudden-plunges-20081009-4xo4.html | work = | pages = | accessdate = 2008-10-10 | language = }}</ref> The first saw the plane descend about {{convert|650|ft|m}} in 20 seconds. Seventy seconds after the plane had returned to its cruising level, the second nose-dive took place and saw the plane descend about {{convert|400|ft|m}} in 16 seconds. Some passsengers on board were flung around the cabin or crashed on rooftop luggage compartments. The pilots stabilised the plane and declared a [[pan-pan]] broadcast, which was later updated to a [[mayday]]<ref>{{cite news | first=Kate | last=Hannon | coauthors= | title=Qantas plunge probe 'may take months' | date=2008-10-09 | publisher=The Canberra Times | url =http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/local/news/general/qantas-plunge-probe-may-take-months/1329033.aspx | work = | pages = | accessdate = 2008-10-12 | language = }}</ref>. Forty minutes later, the plane made an emergency landing at Learmonth airport. |
The incident began at 1251 [[Time in Australia|WST]]. The plane was travelling at {{convert|37000|ft|m}} when pilots received an electronic message of an irregulaity with the elevator control system. The plane climbed {{convert|200|ft|m}} and made two nose-dives.<ref name=oc10>{{cite news | first=Brendan | last=Nicholson | coauthors= | title=Data shows Qantas jet in two sudden plunges | date= | publisher=The Age | url =http://www.theage.com.au/national/data-shows-qantas-jet-in-two-sudden-plunges-20081009-4xo4.html | work = | pages = | accessdate = 2008-10-10 | language = }}</ref> The first saw the plane descend about {{convert|650|ft|m}} in 20 seconds. Seventy seconds after the plane had returned to its cruising level, the second nose-dive took place and saw the plane descend about {{convert|400|ft|m}} in 16 seconds. Some passsengers on board were flung around the cabin or crashed on rooftop luggage compartments. The pilots stabilised the plane and declared a [[pan-pan]] broadcast, which was later updated to a [[mayday]]<ref>{{cite news | first=Kate | last=Hannon | coauthors= | title=Qantas plunge probe 'may take months' | date=2008-10-09 | publisher=The Canberra Times | url =http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/local/news/general/qantas-plunge-probe-may-take-months/1329033.aspx | work = | pages = | accessdate = 2008-10-12 | language = }}</ref>. Forty minutes later, the plane made an emergency landing at Learmonth airport. |
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==Cause== |
==Cause== |
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Revision as of 03:08, 12 October 2008
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| Occurrence | |
|---|---|
| Date | 2008-10-07 |
| Site | 80NM from Learmonth |
| Aircraft | |
| Aircraft type | Airbus A330-303 |
| Aircraft name | Kununurra |
| Operator | Qantas |
| Registration | VH-QPA |
| Flight origin | Singapore Changi Airport, Singapore |
| Destination | Perth Airport, Australia |
| Passengers | 303 |
| Crew | 10 |
| Fatalities | 0 |
| Injuries | Up to 74 |
| Survivors | 313 (all) |
Qantas Flight 72 (QF72) was a scheduled flight from Singapore Changi Airport to Perth Airport on 7 October 2008 that made an emergency landing at Learmonth aiport near the town of Exmouth, Western Australia following a "sudden change in altitude".[1] The plane was an Airbus A330-300 aircraft. Some passengers were seriously injured, some with fractures, lacerations and spinal injuries. At Exmouth, the plane was met by the Royal Flying Doctor Service and 14 people were airlifted to Perth. Up to 30 other people attended hospital, while up to a further 30 had injuries that did not require attending a hospital.[2][3][4] Two planes were sent by Qantas to Learmonth to collect the remaining passengers and crew.[5] The West Australian police commissioner described the incident as "some sort of systems failure".[6]
Flight details
The incident began at 1251 WST. The plane was travelling at 37,000 feet (11,000 m) when pilots received an electronic message of an irregulaity with the elevator control system. The plane climbed 200 feet (61 m) and made two nose-dives.[7] The first saw the plane descend about 650 feet (200 m) in 20 seconds. Seventy seconds after the plane had returned to its cruising level, the second nose-dive took place and saw the plane descend about 400 feet (120 m) in 16 seconds. Some passsengers on board were flung around the cabin or crashed on rooftop luggage compartments. The pilots stabilised the plane and declared a pan-pan broadcast, which was later updated to a mayday[8]. Forty minutes later, the plane made an emergency landing at Learmonth airport.
Cause
Initially it was believed that the cause of the altitude drops was clear air turbulance. Following the incident, however, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) suggested that a computer problem involving irregularity with the aircraft's elevator control system may have been a possible cause of the incident.[2][9][10][11] There was speculation that this irregularity may have been caused by the operation of electronic devices on board, but this was refuted by investigators.[12] Further speculation has related to the plane's autopilot system, with claims that it may have somehow caused the malfunctioning of the elevator system.[13]
Investigation
The ATSB investigation is supported by the Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), Qantas, the French Bureau d'Enquêtes et d'Analyses pour la sécurité de l'Aviation Civile (BEA) and Airbus.[14] Copies of data from the aircraft's flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder were sent to the BEA and Airbus.[7]
Aircraft
VH-QPA was delivered new to Qantas on 26 November 2003, initially in A330-301 mode. It was converted to A330-303 mode in November 2004.[15]
Compensation
In the aftermath of the accident, Qantas offered compensation to all passengers. The airline announced it would refund the cost of all travel on their itineraries covering the accident flight, offer a voucher equivalent to a return trip to London applicable to their class of travel and pay for medical expenses arising from the accident. Further compensation claims would be considered on case by case basis.[16]
External links
- Video footage of the cabin as medical crew enter the aircraft after landing
- Australian Transport Safety Bureau Media Release
- Aviation Safety Investigation Report - Active
- Australian Transport Safety Bureau animation of incident
References
- ^
Siddique, Haroon (2008-10-07). "Qantas flight makes emergency landing as dozens of passengers injured". The Guardian. Retrieved 2008-10-07.
{{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - ^ a b "Qantas Airbus Incident Media Conference" (Press release). Australian Transport Safety Bureau. 2008-10-08. Retrieved 2008-10-08.
- ^
"Computer glitch may have caused Qantas jet plunge". Reuters. 2008-10-08. Retrieved 2008-10-08.
{{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - ^ "Australian jet plunge injures 40". BBC News. 2008-10-07. Retrieved 2008-10-08.
- ^ Simon Hradecky (2008-10-07). "Accident: Qantas A333 near Learmonth on Oct 7th 2008, sudden inflight upset injures 74 people on board". Aviation Herald.
- ^ Thomson, Chris (2008-10-07). "Dozens injured in Qantas mid-air incident". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2008-10-07.
- ^ a b Nicholson, Brendan. "Data shows Qantas jet in two sudden plunges". The Age. Retrieved 2008-10-10.
{{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - ^ Hannon, Kate (2008-10-09). "Qantas plunge probe 'may take months'". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 2008-10-12.
{{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - ^
"Computer glitch may be behind Qantas incident: ATSB". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 2008-10-08. Retrieved 2008-10-08.
{{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - ^
"Qantas flight suffered computer 'irregularity'". The Australian. 2008-10-08. Retrieved 2008-10-08.
{{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - ^
"Qantas plunge jet had computer 'irregularity' say investigators". Herald Sun. 2008-10-08. Retrieved 2008-10-08.
{{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - ^ "Laptops 'did not cause Qantas drop'". Sydney Morning Herald. 2008-10-10. Retrieved 2008-10-10.
{{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - ^ Bibby, Paul (2008-10-10). "Qantas plunge: autopilot probe". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2008-10-10.
{{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - ^ "Qantas Airbus Accident Media Conference" (Press release). Australian Transport Safety Board. October 10, 2008.
- ^ "VH-QPA Qantas Airbus A330-303". www.planespotters.net. Retrieved 2008-10-09.
- ^ Bibby, Paul (2008-10-09). "Qantas compo depends on class of seat". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2008-10-09.