QF5 MAYDAY call
While I agree that having 1 engine fail is normally a bit of a non-story in a 747 and that Qantas is playing down the whole event, what has not been reported is that the crew called MAYDAY after the engine failed. It was still very low over the Kurnell peninsula after departing 16R in bad weather when the crew made the MAYDAY call to departures.
For the next couple of minutes until the situation was stabilised and more information was forthcoming from the crew ATC were preparing for an immediate turnback and possible emergency landing. For it to be reported by the spin doctors that the engine failed 1/2 an hour into the flight and all was okay is a complete lie.
Emergency services were advised and it was not until QF5 was inbound back for a landing on 16R that after dumping fuel did the crew downgrade to a PAN call. Calling Mayday is a very rare event fortunately, and obviously the crew were very concerned so lets not make light of last nights events . We should congratulate the crew and ATC for what was initially a heart stopping event.