Significant Safety Events for Qantas

The following Qantas events are significant safety events as defined by AirSafe.com. Qantas has had no events that would qualify as fatal events as defined by AirSafe.com. This listing covers only those events that occurred since 1960.

Dozens Injured in A330 Event Near Perth
7 October 2008: On 7 October 2008, a Qantas Airbus A330-300, VH-QPA, flight 72, with 303 passengers and 10 crew members on board, was on a scheduled international flight from Singapore to Perth. While in cruise, the aircraft reportedly experienced some type of sudden and unexpected altitude change. The crew issued a mayday call before diverting the aircraft to the airport at Learmonth, near the town of Exmouth, about 1100 kilometers or 680 miles north of its intended destination of Perth.

About 110 passengers and nine crew members were injured, with over a dozen severe injuries. Reportedly, several occupants were slammed into the ceiling during the event. Most of the injuries were to passengers and crew in the rear of the aircraft, and at least one person was carried off the plane in a stretcher. About 13 of the most seriously injured were flown to Perth by four aircraft from the Royal Flying Doctor Service. One flight attendant was hospitalized with suspected head and spinal injuries. Other serious injuries included fractures, lacerations, and a concussion.

Additional accident details
More about this event

Video Podcast Links
iPod/MP4 | WMV | YouTube
Other AirSafe.com Videos

Audio Podcasts
Passenger Interview 10 October 2008
Initial Podcast 7 October 2008

Qantas 747 has Rapid Decompression Event near Manila
25 July 2008: A Qantas airlines 747-400, VH-OJK, flight 30, with 346 passengers and 19 crew members on board, had an explosive decompression event over the South China Sea about 200 miles from Manila. The crew descended about 20,000 feet and successfully diverted to Manila. None of the passengers or crew were injured. A portion of the fuselage just forward of the wing root was found missing after the aircraft landed.
More about this event

Audio: Initial Report on 25 July 2008 | Update 27 July 2008
Video:  WMV | iPod/MP4 |  YouTube

Investigation Update from 27 July 2008 (audio)

Additional Resources
Transcript of Initial Podcast on 25 July 2008
ATSB Preliminary Report
Time Magazine Article on Rapid Decompression
Article: Was Rain Man Right about Qantas?

Qantas 747 has Landing Gear Incident in Rome
23 April 2000: A Qantas airlines 747-300, with 303 passengers on board, had a landing gear strut collapse while taxiing for takeoff from Rome. One of the engines was damaged, but there were no injuries among the passengers and crew. This is the second serious incident involving Qantas in less than a year. Last September, a landing overrun involving a Qantas 747 at Bangkok's airport resulted in about $100 million in damage to the aircraft. A Qantas 747 was also involved in a minor landing incident in Perth the same month.

Qantas 747 with over 400 Aboard Runs off Runway
23 September 1999: A Qantas airlines 747-400, VH-OJH, flight 1, with 407 passengers and crew on board, came to rest on a golf course after sliding off a runway at Bangkok's airport. While there was substantial damage to the aircraft, no one on board the aircraft was seriously injured. The aircraft had been on a scheduled international flight from Sydney, Australia to Bangkok, Thailand.
23 September 1999 BBC Report

Qantas Constellation Runs off Runway and Burns
24 August 1960: A Qantas Lockheed Constellation; VH-EAC; with 38 passengers and 12 crew members on board, ran off the runway after a rejected takeoff, came to rest in a gulley, and caught fire. The aircraft was on a scheduled international flight from Maritius to Keeling Islands, Australia. No one was killed, but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Aviation Safety Network Report on this Event
Official accident report

Additional Resources
Fear of Flying
Plane crashes by model
Craseh rates by model