Plane forced into u-turn when clipboard sucked into engine
Absent-minded ground staff at a New Zealand airport forced a flight to turn around after a clipboard was sucked into plane’s engine.
The Sydney-bound Jetstar plane was already airborne when airport authorities were alerted, forcing the Jetstar pilot to return to Auckland.
It happened on October 27 last year according to the just-released Australian Transport Safety Bureau incident report.
The clipboard was left behind in an engine cowling after luggage was loaded and pre-flight checks were carried out but it was overlooked. Once the plane’s engines were engaged it was sucked inside.
The ATSAB report said it was later inspected by engineers and found to contain shredded pieces of paper and ‘a piece of sheared metal.’
Jetstar, the low cost unit of Qantas, has since revised procedures to ensure no objects are left in the engine cowling, the ATSB said.
"This incident demonstrates the effect foreign object debris has on aircraft operations. It has the potential to cause aircraft damage during critical phases of flight, costing airlines and airports millions of dollars each year," the ATSB said in its report.
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Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
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