Chinese at wrong Perth airport.

[compressor stall]

Ignoring the journo trying to make any link, no matter how tenuous, what happened? From theage.com.

The first Chinese aircraft heading to Perth to join the hunt landed at the wrong airport on Saturday, underscoring the difficulties facing the increasingly complex multinational search effort.

[falconx]

The il76 was meant to go to Pearce but instead ended up at perth intl

[Capn Bloggs]

Sounds dodgy. Both landed at YPPH (10 minutes apart), stayed for about 50 minutes and then went to YPEA according to the Perth Airport Spotters Blog. Customs/Immig/Quarantine?

"They landed at Perth and then they landed here," RAAF Corporal Janine Fabre told Reuters. "We don't know why." :cool:

[Capt Fathom]

Does it really matter?
A couple of days ago, they got Perth Tasmania confused with Perth Western Australia!
Perth international and Perth Pearce are close enough!

[thorn bird]

Probably like any VIP visiting Perth in their corporate jet, they have to clear customs.
Wonder if they are required to walk across the tarmac dodging baggage trolleys, clamber through the bowels of the terminal for a "welcome to Australia" stamp from some sour faced official, then trot back to their jet and taxi to the FBO...
Ahhh!!! Australia.... One of the few third world countries where you can drink the water!!

[dubbleyew eight]

stop demeaning the chinese.

when large transports fly from pearce they often stop at perth international to refuel.

why wouldn't the chinese aircraft land at perth international to clear customs and refuel for the search. then over to pearce to coordinate for the search.

ask yourself this question; how could anyone accidentally land at a controlled class C airport.

old chinese proverb....think before engaging mouth.

[TBM-Legend]

For a start they are under the direction of ATC, they don't just rock up to the "wrong" airfield. These guys are here to assist a major aviation tragedy so respect all who are trying resolve this puzzle. Remember 6 Australian families as well as the other 287 person's are worried sick about this.

Juvenile comments are not welcome.

[Fris B. Fairing]

Where does RAAF Pearce get its fuel from? If it's trucked from Perth it makes a lot of sense to "truck" it in an Il-76. They must be getting through a fair bit of it at the moment.

[rmcdonal]

I am sure they would have a good reason for landing at Perth, but I doubt Customs was one of them. Can you really see the Chinese allowing an Australian Customs agent to board and search their aircraft or crew?

[500N]

"Can you really see the Chinese allowing an Australian Customs agent to board and search their aircraft or crew?"


Why should they be given any special treatment ?

It's not like military personnel are immune from smuggling contraband,
just look at this forum for 50 years of examples via fuel tanks etc.

[TBM-Legend]

I'm sure the Chinese will follow whatever protocols we impose...

[500N]

Yes, although not sure "impose" is the right word !

It's not the first time the two countries have worked together, especially on Disaster relief and Emergency situations so it's not all foreign.