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Qantas experiences plane problems yet again

by Yuliya Talmazan | August 14, 2008 at 12:05 pm

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August has not been the best month for Qantas Airlines as a string of airplane malfunctions has threatened to challenge the world’s third best airline status that Qantas has been granted according to the results of Skytrax poll.

Just today, an engine problem cost the crew of the Australia – New Zealand Qantas flight some nerves, but they managed to land safely, much to the relief of the 219 passengers on board.

One of four engines on a Boeing 747-300 from Melbourne was “reduced to idle” speed while the airplane approached Auckland Airport last night, Qantas spokeswoman Holly Williams said.

However, the pilot managed to land the aircraft with 219 passengers and 16 crew safely, she said.

“A faulty fuel-flow regulator was replaced overnight and the flight (to Los Angeles) is due to depart ... this (Thursday) afternoon,” she said.

Australia’s airline safety body expanded an investigation of Qantas after the company announced it temporarily pulled six Boeing 737-400 airplanes from service because of irregularities in maintenance records.

In another incident today, a Boeing 747 had to be taken out of service to replace a screw in the plane’s tail. The airline confirmed that urgent maintenance was needed.

Ms Williams also confirmed another Qantas Boeing 747 was grounded temporarily in Melbourne yesterday because of a problem with a flap indicator in the cockpit.

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jimboshep

at 15:16 on August 14th, 2008

Images where taken at the Airshow in 2007

jimboshep has contributed a photo to this story.

victorperton

at 16:39 on August 14th, 2008

This photo has nothing to do with a malfunction. It was sunset in Tokyo as we were boarding the Qantas plane. Perfect flight to Sydney with no mishaps and a very helpful, polite and courteous crew.

victorperton has contributed a photo to this story.

numnuts

at 18:15 on August 14th, 2008

It seems every cough, hiccup, or safety check is presently brought to light as a major threat. Highlighted by the Qantas 747 suffering an explosive decompression earlier this month every minor concern or safety check is making headlines, clearly flavour of the month. These minor interruptions are part and parcel of the stringent standards employed in the commercial aviation industry and have been happening since planes first took to the air, not just the last month.
Late last year when leaving the mining town of Newman in W.A. the flight before mine had a catastrophic engine failure just ten minutes into the flight, and fortunately made it back. As Qantas had no spare aircraft they had to charter one from National Jet Services to ferry the stranded passengers. Some of which were too shaken up by the engine failure and instead hired vehicles to drive the required thirteen hours back to Perth. This incident was notably significant, though it did not even make for front page news, and may even be hard to find record of even now.

To reiterate, I feel it's just flavour of the month.

numnuts has contributed a photo to this story.