QF156 - taxiing but returns to Gate, why?

[crviii]

hi all, an unusual thing happened on my way home yesterday (March 15) from Auckland NZ to Melbourne AU. The flight was running on time and the doors were shut for an on time departure. We taxied and had the safety instructions completed. We were on our way when suddenly the pilot made an announcement that "he had been instructed to return to the gate and pick up a passenger who failed to board ".
I have been on a few flights, although probably not as much as some in this forum, and I have never ever had this happen before. I thought this only happens in the movies. The safety instruction was delivered twice.
My questions are
1) does anyone in this forum know what happened on this particular occasion?
2) has anyone experienced this before?
3) who could this person be that they have the power to compel a pilot to go back to the gate at the cost delaying an entire plane

Your thoughts are appreciated.

 

[Himeno]

Sounds quite odd. They wouldn't return to the gate to pick someone up unless that person was someone high profile.
The only time an aircraft I've been on has returned to a gate has been when there was a tech issue found after pushback.

 

[Comoman]

Or their bags hadn’t been removed? So had to return anyway? Unlikely I know.

 

[RooFlyer]

Welcome to AFF crviii

It does happen occasionally. There was a recent report that a lady had forgotten her child at the gate ( ) and the plane returned to reunite them.

The may be other good reasons, but most I hope may involve children and their needs.

 

[crviii]

Sounds quite odd. They wouldn't return to the gate to pick someone up unless that person was someone high profile.
The only time an aircraft I've been on has returned to a gate has been when there was a tech issue found after pushback.

I was talking to my sister about it and I said unless it was Alan Joyce, the plane shouldn't have turned back.

 

[crviii]

Or their bags hadn’t been removed? So had to return anyway? Unlikely I know.

I was actually thinking, maybe they didn't have any check-in bags. We didn't get any delay pushing back so I can only assume that they didn't have to unload any bags.

 

[jb747]

At a guess, his bag was on board, even though they'd thought it wasn't. Quicker to go get him than to remove the bag.

 

[crviii]

Welcome to AFF crviii

It does happen occasionally. There was a recent report that a lady had forgotten her child at the gate ( ) and the plane returned to reunite them.

The may be other good reasons, but most I hope may involve children and their needs.

Thanks! I've been flying for work since the mid-90's and I can't believe that I've just joined now.
I did read that article however in this case there were no children involved just an over-privileged adult sitting in business class.
I am very curious though what kind of powers this person has.

 

[jb747]

I did read that article however in this case there were no children involved just an over-privileged adult sitting in business class.
I am very curious though what kind of powers this person has.

Nobody that I know of has that much power. I would have taken great delight in leaving behind anyone who thought they did, as, I expect would most of my compatriots.

 

[JessicaTam]

Nobody that I know of has that much power. I would have taken great delight in leaving behind anyone who thought they did, as, I expect would most of my compatriots.

The FO?

 

[DC3]

rogerbranch?

 

[AIRwin]

Deadheading crew?

 

[Himeno]

flightstats shows the flight as pushing back 1 minute early, returning to the terminal 20 minutes later, then departing again after 13 minutes.

 

[straitman]

Deadheading crew?

A company person who was needed as part of the operational crew of a flight from the destination. (I hope that makes sense)

 

[juddles]

i think there are multiple explanations here. The most clear and sensible is as per JB - that in the moment it was actually more efficient with a bag preloaded to get the pax rather than find the preloaded bag. But don't ever forget the human element.

I once had a plane held for me. I was part of a company that had a corporate account, etc, but we were small. But even so on the day that I was late for the flight the staff and pilot decided to wait for me. Not a defensible position really. But they did. the human factor (those on duty and trying to do what they thought was the best) can make some things happen that are an aberration.

 

[justinbrett]

I’ve been on aircraft many times that have waited for people - often in LAX waiting for the JFK connection when it’s late.

In this case sounds like an airline error somewhere along the line and they’ve had to rectify it.

The most stupid reason I’ve returned to the gate is when a pax couldn’t turn their mobile off so we taxied back to offload said phone.

 

[RooFlyer]

Lets not confuse waiting for pax at the gate Vs returning to the gate once taxiing. The former happens all the time (time at least is given until bags are offloaded ) - the latter very rarely, which is what makes the OP's experience interesting.

 

[crviii]

Lets not confuse waiting for pax at the gate Vs returning to the gate once taxiing. The former happens all the time (time at least is given until bags are offloaded ) - the latter very rarely, which is what makes the OP's experience interesting.

Thanks RooFlyer, exactly why I posted. I've been on flights where the plane was held because of connecting passengers but never turned back to "pick up a passenger". From the pilots voice and words he used he was not keen to turn back rather the choice was made for him. I appreciate all the comments.

 

[tdimdad]

Yesterday morning in Brisbane domestic there was a similar mysterious plane at gate 17. At around 9:30 a QF 737 suddenly arrived the gate, some time later two QF hosts and one who looked like a passenger marched through the gate onto the plane. Some time later a few QF hosts come out of the gate. The plane was still there nearly an hour later and the incoming QF514 which was scheduled to gate 17 eventually arrived to gate 19.
Nothing in the terminal or BNE airport website about that mysterious plane.

 

[AIRwin]

Yesterday morning in Brisbane domestic there was a similar mysterious plane at gate 17.

It may have been a ferry flight QF6116 positioning back to SYD:
Qantas flight QF6116 - Flightradar24