Qantas In-Flight Emergency
Discussion
News is coming in that a Qantas Boeing 747-400 had to make an emergency descent this morning when a large section of fuselage blew out en-route from Melbourne to London. The plane landed safely at Manilla in the Phillipines.
The damage and its location are very similar to the damage caused to a United 747-200 almost 20 years ago when a lower cargo door blew out taking a large section of fuselage with it and a number of passengers.
In this incident it looks like there were no injuries.
The damage and its location are very similar to the damage caused to a United 747-200 almost 20 years ago when a lower cargo door blew out taking a large section of fuselage with it and a number of passengers.
In this incident it looks like there were no injuries.
ALawson said:
Whats your thoughts Eric? Apparently it was a wing section!
No, it sounds to me like a fuselage failure - possibly caused by a cargo door blowing out. When a door goes like that, the surrounding fuselage skin is often damaged and peels back in the airflow, making the hole larger. The real danger is that the cabin floor might collapse which could damage control runs and hydraulic lines.This type of incidence has happened before (the United 747 I mentioned). It was also the cause of the fatal Turkish Airlines DC-10 crash in 1974.
Edited by Eric Mc on Friday 25th July 08:42
fatboy b said:
Article here
Loving some of the comments:passenger said:
"There was a sort of rapid expulsion of wind"
and a whole bunch of other stuff follwed suit I'll bet 
This ones my favourite though
master of stating the bleadin obvious said:
""It was not what I expected when I got on the plane."
On a serious note I am glad they are all ok, could have been nasty.
It doesn't appear to have anything to do with the cargo door hinges giving way to me. Possibly small explosion (cargo fire and O2 bottles I think are located there) or a structural failure due corrosion. It seems part of the cabin floor collapsed. looks like they were lucky.
BBC
Edited by anonymous-user on Friday 25th July 09:08
Eric Mc said:
and its location are very similar to the damage caused to a United 747-200 almost 20 years ago when a lower cargo door blew out taking a large section of fuselage with it and a number of passengers.
Some of whom went into the engines and came out as passenger puree 
Not a nice way to go.I think that there is a forward cargo door right where that hole appeared. Once the door goes, it tends to rip away surrounding hinge points, stringers, ribs etc so the hole will appear quite irregular and jagged.
Door failures tend to be caused by faulty latches or hinges, or incorrect closure by ground staff - rather than corrosion.
The 747-400 has been in service since 1989 so some of the early deliveries are approaching 20 years old. However, 747s are very strong aircraft and no 747 has ever been brought down by such an incident - unless caused by a bomb or an explosion.
Door failures tend to be caused by faulty latches or hinges, or incorrect closure by ground staff - rather than corrosion.
The 747-400 has been in service since 1989 so some of the early deliveries are approaching 20 years old. However, 747s are very strong aircraft and no 747 has ever been brought down by such an incident - unless caused by a bomb or an explosion.
Edited by Eric Mc on Friday 25th July 09:01
Reminds me of an incedent out of Heathrow about 10 years ago. A Jumbo was taking off West bound over the M4 and I was driving south bound at the time. For some reason, I continued watching the thing way after I should have been watching where I was going (as i was driving!). As the Plane headed off, climbing quite hard and turning, a bright flash caught my eye. The flash of light continued about every 2 seconds and was falling from the position the jumbo had just flown through.
I realised that what I was seeing was a large body panel tumbling over and over. One side was painted white and the other was bare aluminimum. It was a significant piece of metal, at least 8 x 8' I would guess, maybe larger.
I immidiatly pulled into the side and used a motorway phone (before the days of everyone owning a mobile!) and got through to the emergency services. I insisted they put me through to the airport authorities which they did almost immidiatly (it helped that I was in the RAF at the time, and told them this and that there was an aircraft related incedent). Within a minute (which I think is bloody impressive) I was patched through to someone at the tower, and I reported what I had seen.
I didnt know the airline, but from the description (mostly white 747 with a red symbol on the tail - Cathay I think it turned out to be) and the time it took off, they recalled the plane. I found out later through some contacts at Heathrow that the plane was bound for Hong Kong and that it was ordered back into Heathrow after about 30 minutes flying time. The plane was subsequently grounded and stayed that way for 2 days, with all the pasengers having to stay in local hotels.... Apparantly the crew were totally unaware of the incedent at the time.
I found the whole incedent incredible. It was nice to see them react to a call from a 'memeber of the public', although i did drop in "I'm in the RAF and I know what I'm talking about" bit when the initial phone call was answered (like as if my RAF career counted for anything!!!).
never did get 'thanked' though...
editted to add - wonder where that 'chunk' of fusalage landed ? Wouldnt like that falling on you when out sunbathing!!
I realised that what I was seeing was a large body panel tumbling over and over. One side was painted white and the other was bare aluminimum. It was a significant piece of metal, at least 8 x 8' I would guess, maybe larger.
I immidiatly pulled into the side and used a motorway phone (before the days of everyone owning a mobile!) and got through to the emergency services. I insisted they put me through to the airport authorities which they did almost immidiatly (it helped that I was in the RAF at the time, and told them this and that there was an aircraft related incedent). Within a minute (which I think is bloody impressive) I was patched through to someone at the tower, and I reported what I had seen.
I didnt know the airline, but from the description (mostly white 747 with a red symbol on the tail - Cathay I think it turned out to be) and the time it took off, they recalled the plane. I found out later through some contacts at Heathrow that the plane was bound for Hong Kong and that it was ordered back into Heathrow after about 30 minutes flying time. The plane was subsequently grounded and stayed that way for 2 days, with all the pasengers having to stay in local hotels.... Apparantly the crew were totally unaware of the incedent at the time.
I found the whole incedent incredible. It was nice to see them react to a call from a 'memeber of the public', although i did drop in "I'm in the RAF and I know what I'm talking about" bit when the initial phone call was answered (like as if my RAF career counted for anything!!!).
never did get 'thanked' though...
editted to add - wonder where that 'chunk' of fusalage landed ? Wouldnt like that falling on you when out sunbathing!!
Edited by Tony*T3 on Friday 25th July 09:05
Eric Mc said:
I think that there is a forward cargo door right where that hole appeared. Once the door goes, it tends to rip away surrounding hinge points, stringers, ribs etc so the hole will appear quite irregular and jagged.
The missing section looks to be well aft of the fwd cargo door and where the wing to body fairing is. The cargo door is still there intact.Edited by anonymous-user on Friday 25th July 09:07
Tony*T3 said:
The plane was subsequently grounded and stayed that way for 2 days, with all the pasengers having to stay in local hotels.... Apparantly the crew were totally unaware of the incedent at the time.
....never did get 'thanked' though...
I'm sure plenty of those passengers would like to 'thank' you personally....never did get 'thanked' though...
off_again said:
Oh great, thanks for this. I am due to fly to SFO tomorrow, on a 747!
Two incidents like this in 20 years of 747 flying?I would be willing to bet your flight won't suffer a similar problem.
You also won't win the lottery. Sorry.
@Tony - you should get a f@cking medal. Good bloody work!
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