Qantas aircraft flies to Frankfurt with 3m hole in side
It has been reported on Ch7 that on March 8 last year that a Qantas Flight from Singapore to Frankfurt with 408 people on board, suffered an exploding tyre on take off, the debris from which left a 3m hole in the side of the aircraft, which the crew were unaware of, continuing the planned flight to Frankfurt.
In addition, it appears that aviation investigators are being accused of ignoring an emergency, with no thorough investigation launched, with the aviation safety authority and Qantas claiming that no lives were ever in danger.
Ch 7 reported that Perth businessman Karl Dunbar was in Frankfurt that day, spoke with the pilot and saw photos of the damage, adding, “I would say if it was really rough turbulence, I would not want to be on the aircraft”. “The holes were quite frightening, I could have crawled through them.” They were the size of two refrigerators.”
It appears that Qantas informed the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA); but no investigation was launched, with CASA’s Peter Gibson saying, “It’s certainly not a matter of covering anything up,” adding “It’s a matter of making the right judgements and we believe that was done.” CASA ruled there was no risk to passenger safety.
Former CASA chairman Dick Smith said CASA felt “intimidated” by Qantas, adding, “Employees have told me, ‘Dick, if we stood up to Qantas we wouldn’t have a career path”, Mr Smith adding further,”Now that’s terrible.”
He also sad, “You’ve got to have an independent investigator and independent enforcer, and we don’t have that in Australia.”
Mr Dunbar called it a cover up saying, “I’ve tried every avenue and the doors have been slammed in my face”.
It appears that Qantas has denied all the claims, with Qantas CEO Geoff Dixon saying, “This country has a reputation second-to-none for safety and it hasn’t got there without everything being done in a proper way.”
The Mole will continue investigations.
Report by The Mole
John Alwyn-Jones
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