QF Mid Air Plunge? A case of windshear?
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QF Mid Air Plunge? A case of windshear?
Scary mid-air plunge prompts Qantas email - National - NZ Herald News
Could it have been wake turbulence from a dugong? 
A Qantas Boeing 737 touching down at Wellington Airport. File photo / Mark Mitchell
Passengers on a Wellington to Sydney flight took a terrifying mid-air plunge that knocked the aircraft off its axis as it flew in to land.
A Wellington woman on the Qantas flight said it suddenly lost height while cornering shortly before touching down in Sydney.
The fuselage also tilted so it was nearly vertical to the ground, she said.
"One wing dropped right and so we were falling violently for about two seconds. Everyone clasped on to the front of their seats and there was a collective squeal," said the woman, who did not want her name published.
"It righted itself but no one said anything."
Passengers were fastened into their seats at the time.
The next day they were sent an email saying the flight had hit "some turbulence on descent and we appreciate this may have been unpleasant for you".
"We do our best to make your journeys run smoothly, thank you for your understanding," the email said.
A Qantas spokesman yesterday confirmed none of the 144 passengers on board was injured.
"[The flight] experienced turbulence caused by a wind gust as the aircraft was coming in to landing at Sydney International Airport.
"The level of turbulence felt by customers is not uncommon in high-wind situations. The aircraft landed as per normal."
Upon arrival, the captain spoke to the customer service manager on board, who confirmed there were no injuries to passengers or crew, the spokesman said.
But on the day, passengers were in the dark about what happened and everyone simply got off as normal, the Wellington woman said.
"I think pretty much everyone would have been quite shocked," she said. "I was happy when it righted itself. I'm not a terrified flyer.
"It was just kind of weird that [Qantas] didn't say anything and then sent an email."
Another woman on the flight was happy with Qantas' response, but said she was scared by what happened as everyone around her "screamed or made loud noises".
"I was quite shocked but if we're going to crash, we're going to crash, so me screaming isn't going to do anything about it," she said.
- NZME.
Passengers on a Wellington to Sydney flight took a terrifying mid-air plunge that knocked the aircraft off its axis as it flew in to land.
A Wellington woman on the Qantas flight said it suddenly lost height while cornering shortly before touching down in Sydney.
The fuselage also tilted so it was nearly vertical to the ground, she said.
"One wing dropped right and so we were falling violently for about two seconds. Everyone clasped on to the front of their seats and there was a collective squeal," said the woman, who did not want her name published.
"It righted itself but no one said anything."
Passengers were fastened into their seats at the time.
The next day they were sent an email saying the flight had hit "some turbulence on descent and we appreciate this may have been unpleasant for you".
"We do our best to make your journeys run smoothly, thank you for your understanding," the email said.
A Qantas spokesman yesterday confirmed none of the 144 passengers on board was injured.
"[The flight] experienced turbulence caused by a wind gust as the aircraft was coming in to landing at Sydney International Airport.
"The level of turbulence felt by customers is not uncommon in high-wind situations. The aircraft landed as per normal."
Upon arrival, the captain spoke to the customer service manager on board, who confirmed there were no injuries to passengers or crew, the spokesman said.
But on the day, passengers were in the dark about what happened and everyone simply got off as normal, the Wellington woman said.
"I think pretty much everyone would have been quite shocked," she said. "I was happy when it righted itself. I'm not a terrified flyer.
"It was just kind of weird that [Qantas] didn't say anything and then sent an email."
Another woman on the flight was happy with Qantas' response, but said she was scared by what happened as everyone around her "screamed or made loud noises".
"I was quite shocked but if we're going to crash, we're going to crash, so me screaming isn't going to do anything about it," she said.
- NZME.
WTF
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AerocatS2A
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Do dugongs fly into Wellington? Anyway, it's Wellington, the wind would've been 40 knots across the hills and any wake turb would be well gone.
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Do dugongs fly into Wellington? Anyway, it's Wellington, the wind would've been 40 knots across the hills and any wake turb would be well gone.
VH-FTS... yes, the dugong does break wind, sometimes!
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I recall reading an internet article written by a US airline pilot about the time his 777 encountered the wake from an A380 over the Atlantic. The crew of the 777 had watched the A380 overtake them and shortly after they were cleared through the A380's altitude. The encounter was quite pronounced and reasonably violent for an aircraft the size of a 777. I would image a 737 encounter with an A380 wake would be even more dramatic.
I guess we'll have to wait to see whether the occurrence is reported to ATSB by the pilot/airline as an Immediately reportable matter or Routine reportable matter.
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" I guess we'll have to wait to see whether the occurrence is reported to ATSB by the pilot/airline as an Immediately reportable matter or Routine reportable matter. "
Only if Claytons Qantas does what big brother would do ,or as one suspects, sweep it under the carpet like the other Star in the Group does in similar circumstances!
ASIR to be submitted within 24Hrs for such an event , isn't it ?
Only if Claytons Qantas does what big brother would do ,or as one suspects, sweep it under the carpet like the other Star in the Group does in similar circumstances!
ASIR to be submitted within 24Hrs for such an event , isn't it ?
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That "Journo" should be sacked !!
Then taken out and shot!
Originally Posted by PLovett
I recall reading an internet article written by a US airline pilot about the time his 777 encountered the wake from an A380 over the Atlantic. The crew of the 777 had watched the A380 overtake them and shortly after they were cleared through the A380's altitude. The encounter was quite pronounced and reasonably violent for an aircraft the size of a 777. I would image a 737 encounter with an A380 wake would be even more dramatic.
This is pretty terrible really. An airliner went flying and encountered moderate turbulence.....I think all those fare paying passengers deserve compensation and a hug. Nice story NZ Herald.
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Only if Claytons Qantas does what big brother would do….ASIR to be submitted within 24Hrs for such an event , isn't it ?
zk- perhaps not so much.
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Not sloppy journalism.
Pathetic, childish and sensationalist journalism unworthy of debate by professional aviators - and unworthy of any major media organisation which values it's integrity.
Pathetic, childish and sensationalist journalism unworthy of debate by professional aviators - and unworthy of any major media organisation which values it's integrity.
well, maybe if it was vh- rego'd it might be.
zk- perhaps not so much.
zk- perhaps not so much.
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Since when has state of registration had anything to do with clear air turbulence? 
Or is this thread also going to decline into a BS slinging exercise?
Or is this thread also going to decline into a BS slinging exercise?
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eh? read my post again.
mr gasket infers that this operators first reporting responsibility is to casa/atsb with an asir.
i simply queried if that is in fact the case when an aircraft has a zk- rego.
mr gasket infers that this operators first reporting responsibility is to casa/atsb with an asir.
i simply queried if that is in fact the case when an aircraft has a zk- rego.