Qantaslink pilots suffered dizziness on Sydney to Hobart flight

QANTASLINK BOEING 717-231 VH-NXM (MSN 55094)

A recent report revealed that QantasLink pilots suffered from haziness, dizziness, and slowed reactions while trying to land at Hobart Airport last year, triggered by a chlorine smell emanating from the cockpit's air-conditioning vents. 

The captain, experiencing hypoxia-like symptoms, relinquished control to the first officer, who then struggled to align the aircraft with the runway. This incident occurred shortly after cabin crew reported similar symptoms due to a chlorine smell on the same aircraft, which led to a diversion, but no issues were detected, and the plane continued service.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has chronicled the incident aboard a Boeing 717-200 on its journey from Sydney (SYD/YSSY) to Hobart (HBA/YMHB) on the night of the 4th of June 2023, noting the pilots' decision against using emergency oxygen supplies.

According to a Tuesday report by the ATSB, the cabin crew first detected the chlorine odor during the plane's ascent from Sydney. The forward cabin crew experienced dizziness, head pressure, and a metallic taste, but once the odor dissipated and the symptoms subsided, it was decided to proceed to Hobart. It wasn't until 1 hour and 20 minutes later, and 10 nautical miles from Hobart, that the odor reached the cockpit, alerting the captain and first officer.

The captain was the first to suffer symptoms, including mental fog, confusion, diminished situational awareness, and tingling in the limbs, leading to a handover of control to the first officer. The first officer, no longer perceiving the chlorine smell, opted out of using emergency oxygen, citing the imminent landing and the challenges of wearing the mask as reasons.

The captain of QF1541 failed to make the standard call at 1,000 feet indicating a 'stable' approach. As the first officer began the landing approach, they too started to show symptoms. "The first officer had trouble maintaining alignment with the runway centerline at approximately 100 feet above the runway elevation," detailed the ATSB report.

Aircraft Information:

Airline: Qantaslink

Code: QF/QLK

Aircraft: Boeing 717-231

Registration: VH-NXM

Serial Number: 55094

Engines: 2 x BMW RR BR715

First Flew: September 2001

Age: 22.8 Years