Safety bureau continues to probe Qantas incidents
SYDNEY – Qantas has welcomed the latest interim reports issued by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) into the QF30 and QF72 inflight incidents in 2008.
The reports indicate that the ATSB’s investigations continue to focus on:
The failure of one of 13 passenger emergency oxygen system cylinders on the B747-400 operated QF30 Hong-Kong-Melbourne service and subsequent diversion to Manila on July 25, 2008;
And a fault with the operation of one of three Air Data Inertial Reference Units (ADIRUs) on the A330- 300 operated QF72 Singapore-Perth service and subsequent diversion to Learmonth in Western Australia on October 7, 2008.
Qantas CEO Alan Joyce, said the factual accounts of the incidents and investigations to date continued to support the findings of Qantas’ own investigations.
“These two incidents involved extremely rare, if not unique, circumstances that were beyond Qantas’ control,†Joyce said.
“We, and all airlines operating these aircraft types, are keen to fully understand what contributed to these highly unusual incidents.â€
One flight attendant and 11 passengers were seriously injured in the October 7, 2008 when the A330-300, cruising at 37,000 ft, experienced two significant uncommanded pitch-down events while responding to various system failure indications.
Eight other crew members and at least 95 other passengers received minor injuries.
The ATSB investigation has received responses to a questionnaire or other information from 47 percent of the passengers.
Analysis of this information indicates that most of the injuries involved passengers who were seated without their seatbelts fastened or were standing.
However, the investigation has identified a potential design problem which can lead to inadvertent release of a seatbelt if it is loosely fastened.
The seatbelt manufacturer, aircraft manufacturer, aircraft operator, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) and overseas investigation agencies have all reported that they were previously unaware of this potential problem.
Further investigation will consider the scope of the problem across different types of aircraft, as well as relevant design requirements for seatbelts and seats.
The ATSB expects to release its final reports into both Qantas incidents at the end of the year.
Ian Jarrett
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