Congratulations Ben Sandilands, at last a Journo that puts an airline event into perspective, instead of creating a complete beat up like most of these so called aviation experts that write for tabloid outfits do.
About bloody time, good job!
Spoiler: Why Qantas, Malaysia flight delays were good news
On a quiet Monday morning, so far, there are two stories out there which could get beaten up, so let’s get in first.
The Qantas 747-400 performing QF8 Dallas Fort Worth to Sydney via Brisbane that departed yesterday Australian time diverted to LAX five hours into the flight after fumes were reported.
It appears to be delayed until a late night arrival tonight in Brisbane, which will not amuse those booked through to Sydney, unless alternative arrangements were made which would have been difficult, since the flight lobbed in LAX after the regular flights to Sydney had all departed.
Also yesterday a Malaysia Airlines 777-200 returned to Sydney after taking off for Kuala Lumpur and then doing much fuel burning off and checking prior to landing because the pilots felt excessive vibrations during the departure. The incident is described in detail in The Aviation Herald.
While both incidents might get tabloid treatment, the fact is that when airlines bring back a flight because something doesn’t smell right or feel right, they are being safe and their pilots are doing their job. It’s not news.
What can make news is when an airline presses on regardless, and regardless turns nasty.
Now lets hope the next time Mr Joyce comes out with ridiculous statements about over paid pilots/engineers etc compared to his measly salary the same integrity and perceptive will be applied by other Journalists not named in this thread.