Qantas faces special probe after third mid-air drama in two weeks
The investigation by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) came as flight attendants asked top company officials for a special meeting and assurances that Qantas planes were safe.
Qantas prides itself on its extremely good safety record, having never lost a plane to an accident, but recent incidents, including a mid-air blast that ripped a large hole in the fuselage, have dented its image.
CASA spokesman Peter Gibson said to his knowledge the review was unprecedented. A senior authority official, Mick Quinn, would be heading the inquiry, which would take about two weeks, said Gibson.
“We want to look at their safety systems to make sure that the systems are operating the way they should,” he said.
“All these things are stated in manuals. We want to make sure that what is in the manuals is being done.”
Gibson said recent audits of Qantas procedures had not shown up any problems, but following the latest incident on Saturday, the authority felt it was “prudent” to make extra checks.
On Saturday a Qantas Boeing 767 bound for Manila was forced to turn back to Sydney after developing a leak of hydraulic fluid while in the air. It followed two other safety scares.
On July 25, a Qantas Boeing 747-400 en route to Melbourne from Hong Kong made an emergency landing in Manila after a blast believed to have been caused by an exploding oxygen cylinder ripped a large hole in its fuselage.
And last Monday, a Qantas 737-800 was forced to return to Adelaide after a landing gear door failed to retract.
