Forgotten rag posed risk to Qantas jet

Forgotten rag posed risk to Qantas jet

A rag trapped in equipment under the flight deck on a Qantas jet – which could have posed a serious safety risk – was likely left behind during maintenance operations in Sydney.

That’s according to a report by the New Zealand Transport Accident Investigation Commission.

The Boeing 737 was undergoing scheduled maintenance at Auckland International Airport in June 2013 when an engineer discovered metal filings in the forward electronics and equipment compartment area under the flight deck.

On closer inspection, a rag was found trapped under a cable wound around a cable drum.

The commission’s report, released on Thursday, said the rag made the cable bulge outwards, which meant it touched the cable guides and resulted in damage.

“The presence of the rag trapped in the cable drum windings compromised the integrity of the aeroplane’s stabiliser trim system manual control,” the report said.

The commission said it’s highly likely the rag was left behind during cleaning, inspection or maintenance carried out at Qantas’ Sydney maintenance hangar.

Qantas says it has made changes to prevent the likelihood of what it calls a “very rare occurrence” happening again.

“We have improved the processes within our engineering department to ensure that items are not left behind during maintenance checks,” a spokesman said.

He said at no time was the safety of the aircraft compromised.

The report makes no recommendations but says all personnel “must take care not to leave anything behind inside an aircraft after completing maintenance or cleaning tasks, especially in areas or near systems critical to flight safety”.

Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au

    Latest comments
    1. ….if this qantas plane maintenance happened in any asian facilities, the unions will be having a field day exploiting the incident… they’ll be at the forefront of all hungry for story news media… it’s about time these oz workers stop belittling the skills of their asian counterpart … i mean, who do they think they are…

qantas risks

Latest News

  • Destinations
  • News

APT Launches 2025 Asia Adventures

APT has launched its Asia Adventures for 2025, including new luxury holidays in India, Sri Lanka and Japan. Five new tours lead guests to the highlights of India, including a seven-night cruise along the rarely travelled Lower Ganges aboard the Ganges Voyager. Further south, Sri Lanka’s greatest destinations are revealed on a new 15-day Land […]

  • Cruise
  • Luxury
  • News

Seabourn announces Western Kimberley Traditional Owners as Godparents of Seabourn Pursuit

Seabourn has named Western Kimberley Traditional Owners, the Wunambal Gaambera, as Godparents of the ultra-luxury purpose-built Seabourn Pursuit. It is the first cruise line to appoint Traditional Owners as godparents of a ship. Seabourn Pursuit embarks on its inaugural season in the Kimberley region this June. The naming ceremony will take place on Seabourn Pursuit’s […]

  • Luxury

Malolo Island Resort opens brand new Spa

Fiji’s Malolo Island has added another string to its bow – opening its $1.3 million day spa on Thursday, 18th April 2024. (Lead Image: matriarch Rosie Whitton with spa staff) Located at the edge of the resort’s luscious patch of tropical rainforest, the new “Leilani’s Spa” adds another level of elevated experiences to Malolo’s already […]