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.
TravelMole Editorial Team
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.
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
Digital Travel Reporter of the Mirror totally seduced by HotelPlanner AI Travel Agent
Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025
Strike action set to cause travel chaos at Brussels airports