Nine injured in aircraft's rapid descent

Nine passengers on a Virgin Blue flight were admitted to hospital after their plane made a rapid descent in Brisbane because of a cracked outer windscreen, Australian officials said today.

“The nine people affected had typical decompression stuff like nose bleeds, head aches, nausea,” Queensland Ambulance spokesman Michael Franks said.

The Boeing 737, carrying about 100 passengers from Townsville in north east Australia to the east coast city of Brisbane, made the descent late last night after suffering a cracked outer windscreen.

The plan then made an emergency landing at Brisbane Airport.

Virgin Blue, which is part of the Virgin group, did not immediately return calls seeking comment.