Exploding cylinder blamed for air scare

Part of an oxygen cylinder exploded through the floor of the passenger cabin of a Qantas jumbo jet last week, an air safety investigator said today.

The oxygen tank appeared to have exploded beneath the cabin of the London to Melbourne flight over the South China Sea, Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) director of aviation safety Julian Walsh said.

“The ATSB can confirm that it appears that part of an oxygen cylinder and valve entered the passenger cabin and impacted” a door handle, Mr Walsh said.

The jet carrying 365 people was diverted to Manila with a hole the size of a car in its fuselage. No one was hurt.