OzJet passengers "feared for lives"

[bambbbam2]

From
Ozjet passengers feared for their lives | NEWS.com.au

PASSENGERS on a Brisbane to Norfolk Island flight at the weekend were told to don their life jackets and prepare for a crash ocean landing after one of the plane's wingflaps broke.


Travellers spoke of fearing for their lives minutes after bad weather forced the aircraft, carrying about 100 passengers, to abort its landing at Norfolk Island on Saturday.

Bill and Wendy Petersen, of Birkdale in Queensland's Redlands Shire, said the plane started shuddering violently after its right wingflap bent. "We thought we were gone, everybody on the plane," Mr Petersen said.

"It was rocking all around the place. What can you do? You can't get off it.
You just have to see it out, whatever the outcome. It's no good screaming.
You think about your kids at home and everything. It was a serious, serious situation that could have finished up with all of us dead ."

After about 20 minutes of severe shaking, the pilot finally managed to stabilise the Boeing 737-200 and nurse it to Noumea, but the drama wasn't over.

Passengers were told for a second time to brace themselves for a crash landing. But again it didn't eventuate.

After landing safety, they spent a night in Noumea and returned to Brisbane yesterday on another Ozjet plane.

Mr Petersen, who was planning to holiday on Norfolk Island with friends, said one passenger collapsed after the plane had landed.

Ozjet could not be contacted for comment last night.

 

[littl_flier]

Hmm, makes those Happy Hour deals look so appealing. :shock:

Interesting that they diverted to NOU though.

 

[pauly7]

From
Ozjet passengers feared for their lives | NEWS.com.au



Ozjet could not be contacted for comment last night.

Hmm, after being a victim of Ozjet old planes 'going technical' several times when they flew in Aus and now reading this, I'd probably avoid them all together now...

 

[N860CR]

These things happen, probably unrelated to the age of the aircraft. Plenty of QF's 767's are getting on in life and last I checked nobody "feared for their lives" when one of them has a tech problem. O7 should be commended for their crew handling the situation well.

 

[Reggie]

Somne people pay a lot of money for experiences like this, I'm not one of them though. However it could have also been QF, J* or other. I have had QF flights go unservicable, but doesn't stop me using them.

 

[littl_flier]

These things happen, probably unrelated to the age of the aircraft. Plenty of QF's 767's are getting on in life and last I checked nobody "feared for their lives" when one of them has a tech problem.

But how often do passengers have to don life jackets and prepare for emergency landing on the 767's? I would still fly Ozjet but to one who is a little edgy about flying, the fact that they've had a couple of incidents would be enough to put them off.

And QF is very lucky to still have the reputation of being a very safe airline so this may tend to factor into passengers minds.

O7 should be commended for their crew handling the situation well.

i second that, it would appear that the Flight Crew handled the case extremely well!!!

 

[N860CR]

One could argue that QF wouldn't have the pax put on the jackets for fear of damaging their reputation. In all honesty, while a bent flap would cause the plane to bounce around fairly violently (dependant on just how bent it is) it's unlikely to have put the plane in any serious danger, and the crew were likely just being overly cautious.

 

[straitman]

But how often do passengers have to don life jackets are prepare for emergency landing on the 767's? I would still fly Ozjet but to one who is a little edgy about flying, the fact that they've had a couple of incidents would be enough to put them off.

I'd suggest that any similar incident with QF, DJ etc would ensure a similar response from the crew. The issue here is that there was a 'long' over water flight required, without knowing exactly what was wrong, before reaching a suitable alternate.

 

[littl_flier]

I'd suggest that any similar incident with QF, DJ etc would ensure a similar response from the crew. The issue here is that there was a 'long' over water flight required, without knowing exactly what was wrong, before reaching a suitable alternate.

I agree straitman. (or at least I hope it would happen :shock: on QF) I was more referring to the fact that it doesn't happen very often on QF. Take into account the volume of QF 767's vs. the number of OzJet's 737's and the incident rate would be higher. Then one could look at the number of flights etc for each aircraft etc.

 

[straitman]

I agree straitman. (or at least I hope it would happen :shock: on QF) I was more referring to the fact that it doesn't happen very often on QF. Take into account the volume of QF 767's vs. the number of OzJet's 737's and the incident rate would be higher. Then one could look at the number of flights etc for each aircraft etc.

Absolutely :!:

 

[JohnK]

It could happen to anyone not just Ozjet.

Glad to hear that all passengers are OK.

 

[Evan]

In theory those old 737-200's should not be the worst planes in the sky. Seems like a strange problem to happen.
An older plane is usually not that much of a problem, just some more work to keep running well but should not be significantly more unsafe.

OT: i was going to be on ZXC (only BA leased 767) the other night when it went un-servicable and was replaced by another aircraft. Not sure what the story was, was told it was a fumes issue, so assume that was the issue.

E

 

[Yada Yada]

There's some more information here:
OzJet passengers told to don lifejackets after wing fails | The Australian

...and mention of another problem that is being investigated.

O7's having a bad week!

 

[straitman]

There's some more information here:
OzJet passengers told to don lifejackets after wing fails | The Australian

...and mention of another problem that is being investigated.

O7's having a bad week!

It's a big leap of faith to go from a broken/damaged leading edge slat to a flap failure to a wing failure. If the wing fails then you are all history. :shock:

 

[wallacej]

There's some more information here:
OzJet passengers told to don lifejackets after wing fails | The Australian

...and mention of another problem that is being investigated.

O7's having a bad week!

And now they have the attention of the media, I am sure their week is not over yet.. (recall Deathstar was the focus recently followed by Tiger)

 

[pauly7]

One could argue that QF wouldn't have the pax put on the jackets for fear of damaging their reputation. .

I think thats probably the stupidest thing I have ever read on here. Ever.

Unless you meant it as a joke, in which case you forgot the

 

[N860CR]

Yes of course it was meant in jest, rushed past the smilie and didn't click properly

It seems the media have reported on this fairly poorly, big difference between a minor flap problem and a "wing failure". I still believe the crew were being fairly cautious though, for which they should be commended.

 

[Evan]

Remember how the media beat up the QF A330 that had to call a mayday to do a velow visability attempt at landing in PER a few months ago.... Media always talk up stories, thats life i guess.

E

 

[jakeseven7]

Another article:

Safety checks after OzJet mid-air scare

By Janelle Miles
January 02, 2008 02:00am

AIR safety authorities have ordered checks on black box flight recorders and damaged wing parts from a second OzJet flight following separate mid-air incidents two days apart.

Safety checks after OzJet mid-air scare | NEWS.com.au