Qantas 9-hour flight to no where

QANTAS AIRBUS A380-842 VH-OQG (MSN 047)

A Qantas Airbus A380 superjumbo was compelled to return to Sydney on Christmas Day due an issue. According to Flightradar24.com, the airline’s Airbus A380 was operating flight Q63 from Sydney, Australia (SYD/YSSY) to Johannesburg, South Africa (JNB/FAOR) when it was forced to return to Sydney four and a half hours into the flight.

The reason for the diversion was a mechanical issue with the Airbus A380. 

In a statement a Qantas spokesperson said:
“A flight from Sydney to Johannesburg returned to Sydney due to a mechanical issue. The pilots followed normal procedures and returned to Sydney for the aircraft to be checked by engineers.”

Upon landing, the Airbus A380 was met by emergency services as a precaution, though their assistance was not required. The airline clarified that it was not an emergency landing, but the flight crew had requested a priority landing at Sydney Airport.

Passengers were reaccommodated on a service the next morning, according to the airline. 

It added:
“Customers will be provided with accommodation, transfers and meal vouchers and reaccommodated on a 7am flight tomorrow on a different aircraft. We want to thank them for their patience and understanding.”

QF63 took off on Christmas Day from Sydney's runway 34L at 10.17 am (local day light savings time), bound for Johannesburg. The flight was due to land in South Africa at 3pm on the 25th of December but about four-and-a-half hours into the flight it started to turn around near Antarctica. It landed back in Sydney on runway 34L at 7.30 pm (local day light savings time), - nine hours and thirteen minutes after taking off.

Aircraft Information:

Airline: Qantas Airlines 

Code: QF/QFA

Aircraft: Airbus A380-842

Registration: VH-OQG

Serial Number: 047

Engines: 4 x RR Trent 972

First Flew: 6th August 2009

Age: 15 .4 Years