QF2 diversion to Baku

[05flyer]

ABC reporting that last night's QF2 service diverted to Baku due to a medical emergency.
Hundreds stranded in Azerbaijan as Qantas plane makes urgent landing

 

[TheInsider]

Here we go again!

Looking at where it turned around, surely DXB would've been better for maybe an extra 20 minutes?

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[LondonAussie]

Looking at where it turned around, surely DXB would've been better for maybe an extra 20 minutes?

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My first thought as well, Dubai or Doha would have been better choices. I can only guess they preferred to avoid any unusual diversions into Iran and Afghanistan airspace?

 

[XWu]

Here we go again!

Looking at where it turned around, surely DXB would've been better for maybe an extra 20 minutes?

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I assume there is this Middle East corridor that QF uses possibly avoids certain countries, including Iran (which the A380 would have to cross to get to DXB). Beside existing tensions and potential conflict (between Israel and Iran with its nuclear facilities targeted), there may be other potential obstacles like negotiating a flight path etc with the Iranians.
I am however wondering why don’t they land at ISB which is capable of handling an A380, and Pakistan has been known to accomodate medical emergency landing at ISB and KHI in recent years

 

[TheInsider]

Pakistan has been known to accomodate medical emergency landing at ISB and KHI in recent years

I think that part would have to be due to accommodating 400+ passengers and Visas. Maybe Baku is easier.

 

[Mattg]

Second time in 3 years:

M

Thread 'QF1 from SIN diversion to Baku, Azerbaijan (GYD)'

Dec 23, 2022

https://twitter.com/x/status/1606118381307822080

• Must...Fly!
• Replies: 309
• Forum: Airport/Airline Delays & Cancellations

• 
• 

I guess, since this isn't Baku's first rodeo with having an A380 full of Aussies arriving unexpectedly, the process of getting visas/hotels for everyone might be a bit more seamless easier this time?

 

[AIRwin]

Second time in 3 years

Third time including SQ:

SIA flight from Paris to Singapore diverted to Azerbaijan over 'technical issue'

SINGAPORE: A Singapore Airlines (SIA) flight from Paris to Singapore that departed on Thursday (Sep 8) was diverted to Baku, Azerbaijan due to a "technical issue", the airline said on Friday. The Boeing 777-300ER flight SQ333 landed "uneventfully" at Baku Heydar Aliyev International Airport at a

www.channelnewsasia.com

 

[XWu]

Reminds me that never assume that anyone can avoid arriving in a particular country by simply buying a non stop ticket that flies over it. Short of flying in a completely different direction that is no where near the area you are avoiding, they are plenty of reasons (however rare) like plane issues, pax or staff emergency or even hijacking (inside the cabin or outside) which can end in the plane landing in a country you are trying to avoid.

For example Ryanair Flight 4978…..​

 

[LondonAussie]

The ABC news story quotes a passenger now in Baku saying that Qantas are flying in a new plane from London to pick them up... how does that work, they don't exactly have spare planes in London do they?

I assume they meant to say a new crew are flying in from London?

 

[Easy Tiger]

Second time in 3 years:

M

Thread 'QF1 from SIN diversion to Baku, Azerbaijan (GYD)'

Dec 23, 2022

https://twitter.com/x/status/1606118381307822080

• Must...Fly!
• Replies: 309
• Forum: Airport/Airline Delays & Cancellations

• 
• 

I guess, since this isn't Baku's first rodeo with having an A380 full of Aussies arriving unexpectedly, the process of getting visas/hotels for everyone might be a bit more seamless easier this time?

Post automatically merged: Yesterday at 9:59 PM

I can assure that the process of getting visas here isn’t seamless. But we’re a resilient bunch so that helps

 

[arrow]

The ABC news story quotes a passenger now in Baku saying that Qantas are flying in a new plane from London to pick them up... how does that work, they don't exactly have spare planes in London do they?

I assume they meant to say a new crew are flying in from London?

Crew would have timed out.

Another feedback from someone on the ground it’s taken hours to apply for and have approval for the visas. I presume Baku was chosen for a medical reason, however it’s surprising that other visa friendly alternatives weren’t available

 

[Mattg]

This is probably a good example of why Qantas has chosen to avoid flying over Russian airspace.

There were 411 passengers on Sunday night's QF2. Arranging visas for all of them (plus the crew, I guess) is no simple task. But imagine if they'd had to divert to somewhere in Russia under the current circumstances. (And just imagine if they did have to divert to Russia, then found that the plane was unserviceable and they needed a new part/s to continue...)

Crew would have timed out.

Another feedback from someone on the ground it’s taken hours to apply for and have approval for the visas. I presume Baku was chosen for a medical reason, however it’s surprising that other visa friendly alternatives weren’t available

I wonder if Tbilisi was considered?

An extra 20 minutes of flying (or so), but Georgia has visa-free entry for Australians.

Obviously I don't know what the condition of the sick passenger was like, and whether those extra minutes would have been critical.

 

[elanshin]

This is probably a good example of why Qantas has chosen to avoid flying over Russian airspace.

There were 411 passengers on Sunday night's QF2. Arranging visas for all of them (plus the crew, I guess) is no simple task. But imagine if they'd had to divert to somewhere in Russia under the current circumstances. (And just imagine if they did have to divert to Russia, then found that the plane was unserviceable and they needed a new part/s to continue...)



I wonder if Tbilisi was considered?

An extra 20 minutes of flying (or so), but Georgia has visa-free entry for Australians.

Obviously I don't know what the condition of the sick passenger was like, and whether those extra minutes would have been critical.

Which is also the argument ppl have about knowing what your airline flight path is and whether you're ok with that. For example the Chinese airlines overfly Russia right now but what if they had to make a diversion.

 

[TheInsider]

The ABC news story quotes a passenger now in Baku saying that Qantas are flying in a new plane from London to pick them up... how does that work, they don't exactly have spare planes in London do they?

I assume they meant to say a new crew are flying in from London?

Would be new crew, but also new aircraft. Just so it can be catered and whatever else I guess.

 

[AIRwin]

new aircraft

VH-OQI which operated QF1 into LHR?

 

[VPS]

Someone on another forum was on the plane - sounds like a right PITA getting the visas

 

[readyone]

Can't exceed crew hours but can allow 400+ passengers to be offloaded into an airport ill-prepared to accept them at short notice, in an unfamiliar country where the airline has no presence. VA167 in April had a similar issue, forcing 100 passengers to sleep in Queenstown airport so crew hours weren't breached. There's a duty of care to everyone in these situations. Don't have the answer, but it's an interesting debate

 

[Aussie_flyer]

Can't exceed crew hours but can allow 400+ passengers to be offloaded into an airport ill-prepared to accept them at short notice, in an unfamiliar country where the airline has no presence. VA167 in April had a similar issue, forcing 100 passengers to sleep in Queenstown airport so crew hours weren't breached. There's a duty of care to everyone in these situations. Don't have the answer, but it's an interesting debate

I don't think there's any debate to be had. 400 people alive and well beats a potential accident with fatigued crew. Even with the, in reality, slight inconvenience of having to sort out visas etc

 

[Franky]

Can't exceed crew hours but can allow 400+ passengers to be offloaded into an airport ill-prepared to accept them at short notice, in an unfamiliar country where the airline has no presence. VA167 in April had a similar issue, forcing 100 passengers to sleep in Queenstown airport so crew hours weren't breached. There's a duty of care to everyone in these situations. Don't have the answer, but it's an interesting debate

'Can't exceed crew hours'. 'Diddums'. If they had been in a military aircraft they would have carried on until they had completed their flight. Time they were told to get a reality check in circumstances like this....

 

[readyone]

I don't think there's any debate to be had. 400 people alive and well beats a potential accident with fatigued crew. Even with the, in reality, slight inconvenience of having to sort out visas etc

Not so much the incovenience factor - I reckon there's an argument there's a potential safety issue leaving 400 Aussies stranded in a foreign country they didn't expect to be dropped into, and where the airline has no direct oversight as to their welfare.