Passengers hurt as Qantas jetdrops altitude

THIRTY-SIX passengers and crew were injured, some seriously, in the mid-air drama that forced a Qantas jetliner to make an emergency landing, the Australian carrier and police said yesterday.

Australian Broadcasting Corporation radio said 10 people sustained broken bones and severe cuts.

The terrifying incident saw the Airbus A330-300, carrying more than 300 passengers, issue a mayday call when it suddenly changed altitude during a flight from Singapore to Perth, Qantas said.