Qantas suspends A380 flights

Monday, 8 November 2010 06:08 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

QF32, a Qantas A380 aircraft operating from Singapore to Sydney, experienced an engine issue soon after takeoff on Thursday and returned to Singapore for safety. The aircraft had 440 passengers and 26 crew on board.

In line with procedure, the pilot first sought priority clearance for its return to Singapore then landed the aircraft safely at 11.46 hrs local time.

Change Airport Group's Airport Emergency Service responded with six fire vehicles, in accordance with standard operating procedure for such incidents. In response to the pilot's request, checks were conducted on the aircraft by AES. Once the checks were completed, passengers and crew began disembarking from the aircraft at Runway 2. Buses were arranged to ferry them to the airport terminal. Disembarkation of all 469 passengers and crew on board was completed by 13.40 hrs.

There have been no reports of injuries to any customers or crew and Qantas is planning for an aircraft to depart for Singapore to bring passengers back to Sydney this morning. Passengers and crew on QF32 were accommodated in Singapore by the airline.