“We thought we were going to die”: Qantas flight forced to divert after technical glitch
A Qantas flight from Perth to Sydney was forced to divert to Melbourne after a technical issue on board over the weekend.
The Airbus A330 plane experienced mid-air problems with its air conditioning system, affecting the aircraft’s “ability to maintain pressure in the cabin” a spokeswoman said.
While the plane made an unscheduled diversion to Melbourne, oxygen masks were deployed, a precaution due to the pressurisation issues.
Passengers assumed the worst, and we don’t blame them.
Nick Scerri, a passenger on board the flight told Daily Mail that he and many others “genuinely thought we were going to die”.
“It was one of those experiences you go through that gives you a real jolt and reminds you how vulnerable you are,” he said.
“People were being openly hysterical because the pilots were being so tight-lipped about the situation.”
“I tried to keep a poker face but the lack of information had us all looking at each other, we genuinely thought we were going to die.”
Among the fear, an elderly lady fainted with a doctor on board administering first-aid, children were crying and people were hysterical.
The flight descended to 10,000 feet where cabin pressurisation is not required, before landing safely in Tullamarine, Melbourne early Saturday morning.
Passengers were transferred to the next available flight to Sydney and engineers are due to inspect the plane in Melbourne.
Scerri claimed the response was inadequate for what had happened.
“When we got off the plane we were not asked a thing, as far as I am concerned there was no after care for passengers and we were able to just walk off and disappear into the airport,” he said.
“I had the impression this was about the economics of the plane needing to be fixed than our wellbeing.”
A Qantas spokesperson said the company wished to apologise for the incident and commended the actions of staff and passengers.
Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au
flight diverted melbourne perth pressurisation qantas sydney technical glitchLatest News
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