Looking back on Qantas Flight 72

QANTAS AIRBUS A330-303 VH-QPA (MSN 0553)

Qantas Flight 72, a scheduled service from Singapore Changi Airport (SIN/WSSS) to Perth Airport (PER/YPPH) made an emergency landing at Learmonth Airport (LEA/YPLM) near Exmouth, Western Australia, on the 7th of October 2008. This was due to an in-flight incident involving sudden, uncommanded pitch-down movements that resulted in serious injuries, including fractures, lacerations, and spinal injuries, to passengers and crew. The aircraft was met by the Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia and Care Flight at Learmonth. 

Fourteen individuals were airlifted to Perth for hospital treatment, and thirty-nine others were also hospitalised. Overall, one crew member and eleven passengers sustained serious injuries, while eight crew members and ninety-nine passengers incurred minor injuries. The investigation by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) identified a malfunction in one of the plane's three air data inertial reference units (ADIRUs) and an unrecognized software design flaw in the Airbus A330's fly-by-wire flight control primary computer (FCPC).

Qantas Flight 72, carrying 315 passengers, departed Singapore at 9:32 am local time. By 10:01 am, the aircraft had reached a cruising altitude of approximately 37,000 feet (11,000 m) and was maintaining a cruising speed of Mach 0.82. The incident began at 12:40 Perth time when one of the plane's three air data inertial reference units (ADIRUs) began supplying incorrect data to the flight computer. As a result, the autopilot automatically disengaged. Shortly thereafter, the pilots received electronic warnings on the aircraft's electronic centralized aircraft monitor about inconsistencies in the autopilot and inertial reference systems, along with conflicting stall and overspeed alerts. At this point, the captain took manual control of the aircraft. The autopilot was re-engaged briefly, prompting the plane to revert to its previously selected flight level. However, the crew disengaged the autopilot after roughly 15 seconds, and it remained off for the rest of the flight.

At 12:42, the aircraft executed a sudden, uncommanded pitch-down maneuver, experiencing -0.8 G and reaching an 8.4-degree pitch down, resulting in a rapid descent of 650 feet (200 m). Twenty seconds later, the pilots managed to return the aircraft to its assigned cruise flight level, FL370. At 12:45, the aircraft underwent a second uncommanded maneuver of a similar nature, this time with an acceleration of +0.2 G, a 3.5-degree pitch down, and an altitude loss of 400 feet (120 m); the flight crew successfully re-established the aircraft's assigned level flight within 16 seconds.

Passengers and crew who were unrestrained—and even some who were restrained—were thrown around the cabin or injured by falling overhead luggage, as well as by impacts with and through the overhead compartment doors. The pilots stabilized the plane and issued a Pan Pan Pan call, which was later escalated to a Mayday when the extent of the injuries became known to the flight crew.

Aircraft Information:

Airline: Qantas Airways

Code: QF/QFA

Aircraft: Airbus A330-303

Registration: VH-QPA

Serial Number: 0553

Engines: 2 x GE CF6-80E1A3

First Flew: 11th November 2003

Age: 20.11 Years Old