Qantas jets collide at Airport

[DTM1]

Two Qantas jumbo jets - including the plane involved in the Manila mid-air explosion last July - have collided while being towed at Avalon.

Qantas jets collide at airport - News - Travel - theage.com.au

 

[NM]

I wonder what the foreign outsourced maintenance workers were doing at AVV?

And did this really happen on the runway per the thread title? I cannot imagine why two aircraft would be being towed on the runway at the same time. Perhaps rather than the implication that they "collided on the runway", it may have been more correct to report they "came into contact while being towed near the maintenance hanger".

But it does go to show that Qantas just can't win a tick at the moment :shock:. There will be some tough questions being asked in the next few days.

 

[DTM1]

oops - my error re "runway". not thinking clearly, and switched runway for airport - was just picturing it in my mind and it found it's way into the thread title.

am happy for a mod to change the title...

 

[Harpoon]

(Speculation) One would assume that one was parked and another towed behind it and the wingtip clipped the tail or something like that. Perhaps simply tow driver error looking at the wrong line or something really stupid.

That'll teach QF to outsource to Avalon!!!

 

[dajop]

And did this really happen on the runway per the thread title? I cannot imagine why two aircraft would be being towed on the runway at the same time. Perhaps rather than the implication that they "collided on the runway", it may have been more correct to report they "came into contact while being towed near the maintenance hanger".

The real story here should be why news outlets such as The Age have deteriorated to such an extent that they put a "boy who cried wolf" headline on such a non-story. Perspective seriously lacking at the subed (web) desk whose sole aim to collect hits on the webpage.

 

[NM]

The real story here should be why news outlets such as The Age have deteriorated to such an extent that they put a "boy who cried wolf" headline on such a non-story. Perspective seriously lacking at the subed (web) desk whose sole aim to collect hits on the webpage.

I agree completely

 

[simongr]

Actually for me this is almost a decent story. I think collide is a little strong but this is almost newsworthy.

Interesting that the people involved have been stood down already during the investigation.

 

[NM]

Actually for me this is almost a decent story. I think collide is a little strong but this is almost newsworthy.

Interesting that the people involved have been stood down already during the investigation.

What makes it any more newsworthy than reporting that two council buses scraped each other while being driven at a suburban maintenance depot?

Now if this the aircraft (or the buses for that matter) were put back into service without being properly repaired and hence posed a safety risk to passengers, then that is a different issue.

 

[Harpoon]

If it was a tow driver error.... you wonder how they didn't notice the 374 tonne aircraft outside his windscreen or side window.......such an easy thing to miss

 

[simongr]

What makes it any more newsworthy than reporting that two council buses scraped each other while being driven at a suburban maintenance depot?

Now if this the aircraft (or the buses for that matter) were put back into service without being properly repaired and hence posed a safety risk to passengers, then that is a different issue.

Only that in trying to fix the aircraft that was subject to an explosion a few months ago they have crashed it - almost funny really.

 

[serfty]

Sure it's really funny for Qantas; those with 744 Y+ bookings in the near future may need to keep an eye out.

 

[NM]

If it was a tow driver error.... you wonder how they didn't notice the 374 tonne aircraft outside his windscreen or side window.......such an easy thing to miss

Reminds me of the RACQ boat insurance ads .... "Charter boat? What charter boat?"

 

[Platy]

What makes it any more newsworthy than reporting that two council buses scraped each other while being driven at a suburban maintenance depot?.

Well, NM, IMHO certainly more newsworthy. Firstly, two buses can scrape and it is unlikely to have any safety impact on the integrity of the vehicles or require extensive mandatory engineering checks. Any aircraft "scrape" (large or small) must be checked out and addressed (not exaplined by the journos).

Secondly, there is a financial angle (not explored by the journos) an aircraft scrape can cause $10 millions of losses from downtime for the aircraft (usually orders of magnitude bigger than any actual repair costs).

Thirdly, the general public are understandably concerned about their safety when flying. Furthermore, some are cautious of the possibility of cost cutting reflecting in reduced safety standards.

Fourthly, Qantas has had a bad run of late, whether or not of its own making, so any incident will be subject to public scrutiny.

Incidentally, on the SMH web site the story is captioned with "What a Drag" and subcaption making it clear the story was about a accident with an aircraft under tow. IMHO all eminently reasonable.

 

[maninblack]

I was waiting for my QF flight at BNE a few weeks ago...delayed...then pulled. Aircraft had to go to the repair base. The catering truck had driven into the aircraft door. Good work boys. The second incident of this kind I have experienced this year.

Didn't make the news, I should have snapped some photos and called the Courier Mail. Headline, "Qantas jet in collision with truck".

 

[Keith009]

"Collision" Dramatic much...

 

[NM]

While I agree with most of your points ...

Thirdly, the general public are understandably concerned about their safety when flying. Furthermore, some are cautious of the possibility of cost cutting reflecting in reduced safety standards.

This is where I differ. Readers will certainly make the correlation between this incident and the issues you mention. And I think that is part of the intention of the media report.

Implications that this ground handling incident has anything to do with passenger safety or cost cutting would appear to be ungrounded at this time. Yet this is the natural outcome of such a report.

If the report had addressed the points you mentioned (such as the financial impact of repairs and downtime) and avoided the sensationalism, then I agree it may be in the public interest. But without the balance, I think it is little more than a sensationalist grab for readership and web site hits by perpetuating the interest in anything negative relating to Qantas.

Of course its a very recent incident and the details are very sketchy at present, so its hard to know what the real "impact" will be.

 

[dajop]

Incidentally, on the SMH web site the story is captioned with "What a Drag" and subcaption making it clear the story was about a accident with an aircraft under tow. IMHO all eminently reasonable.

A far better approach than "jets collide". It is irresponsible to suggest that the jets collided, as that conjurs up images of blood, flames, explosions and death, which is not at all the case here.

Also perhaps the report belongs in the financial section as really that is where the impact could be felt - costing the company (therefore shareholders) $$$. It has nothing to do with travellers really, as QF will undertake all the necessary checks before these birds are airborne again.

 

[milehighclub]

If anyone is flying to Los Angeles tomorrow - your now on an A380!!!

 

[Keith009]

If anyone is flying to Los Angeles tomorrow - your now on an A380!!!

"Every cloud......"

 

[Platy]

...Of course its a very recent incident and the details are very sketchy at present, so its hard to know what the real "impact" will be.

Yes in fact the version on www.news.com.au seems to have been written a little later and is more balanced. I suspect amount of info available is a factor when these things are written...