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Australian jet plunge injures 40 Australian jet plunge injures 40
(about 1 hour later)
A passenger plane has made an emergency landing in Western Australia after 40 people were injured following a "sudden change in altitude", officials say. A passenger plane has made an emergency landing in Western Australia after some 40 people were hurt following a "sudden change in altitude", officials say.
The Qantas Airbus A330-300 flying from Singapore to Perth with 313 people on board landed at Learmonth Airport in Exmouth after making a mayday call. The Qantas Airbus A330-300 flying from Singapore to Perth with 313 people on board landed at Learmonth Airport near Exmouth after making a mayday call.
Qantas said there was no sign yet as to what caused the altitude change, but officials suspect it was turbulence.Qantas said there was no sign yet as to what caused the altitude change, but officials suspect it was turbulence.
Emergency services, including medical personnel, met the plane on landing.Emergency services, including medical personnel, met the plane on landing.
A number of those injured suffered fractures and lacerations, Qantas said. Ten people with severe injuries were taken to hospital. Three cabin crew and more than 30 passengers sustained injuries, 15 of them serious, including fractures and lacerations, officials said.
The Royal Flying Doctor Service has also sent two aircraft to Exmouth to help transport the injured to the state capital Perth, around 1,100km (700 miles) south of the town, if necessary. Several people were taken to the hospital Exmouth.
The police later said Qantas was sending two planes to bring the rest of the passengers to Perth. The Royal Flying Doctor Service also sent two aircraft to Exmouth to help transport the injured to the state capital Perth, around 1,100km (700 miles) south of the town, if necessary.
It is not the first time in recent months that a Qantas plane has been involved in a mid-air drama. 'In-flight upset'
The Australian Air Transport Safety Bureau said the plane had been cruising in level flight when it experienced a "sudden in-flight upset" which resulted in injuries to a number of cabin crew and passengers, primarily in the rear of the aircraft.
The pilot declared a mayday and diverted the plane to make an emergency landing at the remote Learmonth airport on the north-western Australian coast, "where it landed without further incident", the statement added.
Qantas said there were no details available at this stage as to what caused the altitude change, but one local police officer said it was severe turbulence.
"We have had some information that it possibly was turbulence, but we haven't had that confirmed at this stage," Sgt Clifford told ABC.
However, Western Australia Police Commissioner Karl O'Callaghan later told the Sydney Morning Herald that he understood the incident had been caused by "some sort of systems failure".
He said his force's State Crisis Centre in Perth had been activated. Seven ATSB investigators are also preparing to travel to Learmonth in order to investigate the incident.
Qantas is sending two smaller planes to the airport to bring stranded passengers to Perth.
Safety review
The Australian flag-carrier prides itself on having a good safety record, but a spate of recent incidents has dented its image, correspondents say.
QANTAS INCIDENTS 7 October: Airbus A330 makes emergency landing in Western Australia after "sudden change in altitude" injures up to 40 people2 Aug: 767 returns to Sydney after hydraulic fluid leak in wing28 July: 737 returns to Adelaide with landing gear cover problem25 July: 747 diverted to Manila after hole appears in fuselage Oxygen bottle behind Qantas blast
In July, a Qantas Boeing 747 flying from Hong Kong to Melbourne was forced to make an emergency landing after an oxygen cylinder caused an explosion which blew a large hole in the fuselage.In July, a Qantas Boeing 747 flying from Hong Kong to Melbourne was forced to make an emergency landing after an oxygen cylinder caused an explosion which blew a large hole in the fuselage.
Later that month, one of the airline's Boeing 737s returned to Adelaide after a landing gear bay door failed to close. Days later, a Boeing 767 bound for Manila needed to return to Sydney after a hydraulic fluid leak was detected.
The Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority subsequently launched a review of the airline. Officials said they had no evidence of falling safety standards, but that it was "prudent" to take a closer look.
Were you a passenger on the Qantas flight? Do you know anyone who was on board? Send us your comments by completing the form below.Were you a passenger on the Qantas flight? Do you know anyone who was on board? Send us your comments by completing the form below.
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