Qantas passengers trapped in Delhi

[Flashback]

HUNDREDS of people were forced to wait more than six hours to get off a stranded Qantas jet, after it made an unscheduled landing in India.

Qantas passengers trapped in Delhi | NEWS.com.au

 

[simongr]

A couple of things - maybe we need a "QF Reliability reports thread" rather than a new thread every time on of the Cabin Crew breaks a nail on a flight...

I loved the comments especially this one:

I have heard recently, that Qantas hires cheap Chinese mechanics, who do botchy jobs to maintain the Qantas fleet, has saved Qantas millions of dollars yearly. Qantas should be ashamed of themselves for putting their own interests ahead of safety. I won't be surprised if I hear a Qantas 747 jet crashes sometime in the near future!

I once heard from a man in a pub that BA uses tarined monekys to do it's cleaning - probably as reliable a source as any...

Hmm - I do agree that the QF fleet seems to be creaking a little - all aircraft being used to their maximum giving not much margin for error - a few A380's and the pressure might come off the fleet...

Hmm actually maybe that QF reliability thread should be retitled the QF bashing thread...

 

[futaris]

Didn't someone already mention this diversion in another thread? Was the problem engine vibration or engine failure???

 

[kpc]

One passenger said while the six-hour wait to get off the plane was bad, not having access to baggage was really "disappointing".

This sounds like the fault of the local airport authorities as the passengers presumably did not have visas for India...I too would have been screaming blue murder if I was stuck on a plane at Delhi for 6 hours; God only knows how hot Delhi was at the time....I hate to think of the state of the aircraft bathrooms by then:shock:

it might be a free night but your not allowed to leave the hotel without a visa, i know as my boss is stuck there, as he is on that flight

Can't believe how inflexible the local authoritiies are, but having said that, I wonder what Australian airport authorities would have done to a bunch of Indian nationals who arrive in Australia without a Visa (even with a valid reason such as an emergency landing due to a mechanical fault)...do I hear Villawood?

I feel very sorry for anyone on that plane, it's a long flight, I especially feel for anyone with children - it would be a nightmare!

My thoughts exactly!!

My partner is on that plane and I called qantas this morning to get some info and they were not very helpful....Their lack of communication to the passengers is totally unacceptable.

This one can be blamed on QF!!:evil:

What's a bit of sweat in the clothing and a wait for customs & immigration (for a couple of hundred unexpected, non-visa holding visitors)?

I love this quote; he / she would be the first one complaining if it had happened to them

 

[SeaWolf]

"The biggest disappointment from this whole experience is the lack of information coming from Qantas. Once we were herded off the plane, we were shipped off to hotels," said the passenger.

I've lost count of the number of times I've heard this complaint. Every time the slightest thing goes wrong the one constant seems to be lack of communication. People want to know what's going on, even if it's, "We're not sure, but we're working on it." You'd think that the airlines would have figured that out by now.

 

[dajop]

Didn't someone already mention this diversion in another thread (qf9 side trip to delhi)? Was the problem engine vibration or engine failure???

Funny that thread, before clicking on the thread, I thought it was QF009 (who has been provide wonderful trip reports of his travels) taking a side trip to delhi!!

 

[globetrekker]

Culprit is VH-OJG. Indications are that it was surging, followed by vibrations. VH-OJQ flew out of Sydney for Delhi yesterday 8AM as QF6011 with fifth pod ops. It then flew on to LHR as QF9, arriving about midnight local time.

Re - Lack of information / local authorities. I don't think the crew relayed any info because there probably wasn't much to share anyway. Remember that the aircraft was arriving in DEL in the middle of the night so options are limited, especially considering that India is a place where if you don't have a visa you don't get in.

I like how they have a picture of an SP (VH-EAA) in the article

 

[bambbbam2]

I blame John Howard.

Well that's what we used to say..

 

[NM]

I've lost count of the number of times I've heard this complaint. Every time the slightest thing goes wrong the one constant seems to be lack of communication. People want to know what's going on, even if it's, "We're not sure, but we're working on it." You'd think that the airlines would have figured that out by now.

And its not unique to any one particular carrier. It seems to be common to all operators.

 

[JohnK]

I can understand that there may well be customs/immigration issues allowing passengers to exit the airport but why keep them on the aircraft for 6 hours and not allow them to transit in the airport?

I remember many years ago on a TWA flight ATH-JFK and not long after take-off the aircraft was diverted to LHR. The excuse was that there was a potential fault with one of the engines and they needed to have an inspection. They kept us on the aircraft for over 3 hours at LHR and it should not have been a big issue to allow us to transit in the airport. It is not fun sitting around a hot aircraft cabin with no updated information.