Qantas diverted flight leaves passengers sitting on the plane for 4 and 1/2 hours

Frustrated Qantas passengers described their experience on a diverted flight as a major breakdown in customer care, communication, and decision-making.

Flight QF281 departed Brisbane (BNE/YBBN) 9.41 am Brisbane time (11.41 am Wellington time) bound for Wellington (WLG/NZWN), however, the flight was diverted to Auckland (AKL/NZAA) after poor weather closed in over the capital's airport, the airline confirmed.

In a Qantas press release the plane landed in Auckland at 2.40 pm (Auckland time) then remained on the tarmac at Auckland Airport because of “operational and administrative complexities”.

In an emailed statement to the media at 7.35pm, Qantas said customers had now disembarked and would be reaccommodated on the next available services to Wellington, apologising to passengers for the experience and saying staff were working to get them on their way as soon as possible.

Qantas confirmed the next day that passengers have been reaccommodated on an Auckland to Wellington flight departing at midday, however, formal complaints made to the airline, paints a more chaotic picture.

A passenger wrote that the aircraft had aborted two landing attempts at Wellington before diverting to Auckland, where passengers were then held in the plane on the tarmac for close to four-and-a-half hours. After they were finally released, a further one hour and forty-five minutes passed before their bags were returned to them.

Passenger said there was no electronic communication from Qantas and no ground staff providing information about overnight accommodation or how passengers would reach their intended destination.

Concerns were also raised about young children on board, including unaccompanied minors, with the passenger saying keeping children confined to the aircraft for four hours was unacceptable and totally ridiculous. Complainants mentioned that by the time passengers reached a hotel, more than twelve-and-a-half hours had passed since a meal had been provided.

Another passenger mentioned that the cabin crew on the aircraft were excellent, but they also hadn’t been given any information to share with travelers. Sondra Bacharach told the media just before 10 p.m. that although the airline had arranged accommodation for passengers, there was still no word on the next steps for flights.

“They’ve told us nothing about when and where we are flying next. There has been no food provided, we haven’t had dinner, only a small amount of water,” she said.

“Flight attendants told us customs immigrations would not allow us to disembark and later told us there were visa issues for some people not being allowed back into Australia.”

She said while the staff on the plane had been wonderful, the lack of communication had been “frustrating”, we’ve had one meal since 9am and we are all really tired and very hungry.”

Earlier, the stranded travelers were reportedly told that the flight would eventually divert back to Wellington or Brisbane, according to a passenger’s friend who spoke to the media.

“It’s just crazy—they’ve spent the whole day on the plane, flown around New Zealand’s airspace, and now they might have to return to Australia,” she said.

“There was no proper explanation from Qantas on why passengers weren’t allowed to disembark in Auckland.” When first asked about the incident, Qantas did not elaborate on why the plane remained on the tarmac with its passengers still inside, when the situation might change, or where it would fly next.

“We don’t have that information, sorry,” the spokesperson initially said.

Airbus A380 to be inspected urgently after cracks found in aircraft

Airbus said it would inspect 16 A380 planes, five of them immediately, after cracks were found in a key wing component on aircraft used by the Emirates and Qantas airlines.

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has demanded urgent inspections requiring airlines to examine the wing-spar structure on the affected jets after inspectors found cracks during routine maintenance checks. The cracks appeared in a structural beam that runs along the wing and carries much of the aerodynamic load during flight.

Of the 16 planes to be inspected, 15 are operated by Emirates and one by Qantas.

The five aircraft to be inspected immediately are flown by Emirates and will undergo the process as soon as Wednesday. Airlines using the A380 include Emirates, Singapore Airlines, British Airways, Qantas, Lufthansa, Qatar Airways, Korean Air, Etihad Airways, ANA and Asiana Airlines.

Emirates operates the largest A380 fleet in the world, flying more than half of all active super jumbos.

Cracks on an aircraft that "could reduce the structural integrity of the wing" were discovered during inspections ordered by EASA in a directive issued in December 2025, the European plane maker said. All A380s "with the same production history" have been identified, and Airbus will carry out immediate inspections on five aircraft.

The safety regulator has lashed national carrier Qantas over a "cascade of errors" that saw a 1.25-metre tool left in an engine for 300 hours of flying time. The French-based plane manufacturer will discuss with EASA whether repairs are necessary, an Airbus spokesperson said.

The 11 other aircraft can be inspected later but before their 13th flight, that is, 25 cycles with one cycle consisting of a flight, a take-off and a landing. The A380 has faced wing-related problems before and the EASA in 2012 ordered inspections after cracks were found in brackets linking the wing skin to internal ribs. That affected the entire global A380 fleet and led to a costly repair programme which Airbus addressed through design changes on planes produced later.

Small plane crashes into Beijing’s tallest skyscraper

On Friday, a small plane took off from Beijing's Shifosi Airport (ZBPG) and crashed into the CITIC Tower, the tallest building in the city, damaging part of the structure and scattering debris onto the streets below.

Videos on social media captured the moment of impact, with pieces of the aircraft falling from the 108-storey tower that houses the state-owned CITIC Group’s headquarters. Photos from the scene showed damage to the building, including two shattered glass panels, and the aircraft’s tail section lying on the ground. A nearby taxi had a smashed window, and the crash sparked a small fire at street level, smoke rising from the spot where debris landed.

The CITIC Tower, which has 108 floors above ground and seven basement levels, is one of Beijing's most recognisable landmarks and can accommodate around 12,000 office workers. According to Reuters, police quickly sealed off roads surrounding the building and restricted access to the area. Witnesses told the news agency that officers prevented people from recording the aftermath and asked some bystanders to delete photographs and videos taken at the scene. The Reuters report also said that images and videos of the crash were removed from Chinese social media platforms, although footage remained available on X.

A closer examination of images circulating online suggested the aircraft was a Sunward SA60L Aurora, a domestically manufactured light sport aircraft roughly the size of a car. The aircraft is produced by a Chinese general aviation company that provides services including pilot training, recreational flying, and aerial photography. Neither the aircraft manufacturer nor the Chinese authorities had issued an official statement on the crash at the time of publication.

The incident comes against the backdrop of tighter airspace controls in Beijing. Since the 1st of May authorities have enforced sweeping restrictions on drones, requiring government approval before residents can buy, rent, or operate unmanned aircraft.

The cause of the crash and whether there are any casualties were not immediately known.

Aircraft Information:

Owner/operator: Dongshi Shuangyue General Aviation

Aircraft: Sunward SA 60L Aurora

Registration: B-12PP

Serial Number: SA60LS00313

Engine: 100 hp Rotax 912ULS 4-cylinder

We’re keeping family and friends in our thoughts and prayers through this difficult time.

Strong head winds force a Qantas flight to make an unexpected remote landing

A few days ago, a Qantas flight from London’s Heathrow (LHR/EGLL) to Perth (PER/YPPH) had to make an unscheduled stop in the West Australian mining town of Karratha (KTA/YPKA) after strong headwinds left it without enough fuel to finish the trip in one go.

The 17-hour flight was supposed to land at Perth Airport around midday but ended up diverting to Karratha Airport, touching down at 11:45 a. QF10, a 787 Dreamliner, had to refuel after changing weather conditions along the way, a rare occurrence that happens on long-haul journeys.

The surprise landing comes days after Qantas revealed the timing of its ambitious ultra-long-haul Project Sunrise flights, which will connect Sydney to London on flights that can last 22 hours non-stop. It shows how weather could confront the new service.

The Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner needed more fuel to complete the final two hours of its journey after weather conditions during the flight forced the crew to adjust the flight path, Qantas said. The aircraft spent about one hour on the ground before continuing on to Perth at 12.40pm and touching down in Perth at 2.40pm.

Karratha Airport, mostly used to service the region’s fly-in, fly-out mining workforce, was only approved to accept larger aircraft last month. The location, based in the town that is home to about 25,000 people, became a designated restricted use international airport and alternative international airport.

Aircraft Information:

Airline: Qantas

Code: QF/QFA

Aircraft: Boeing 787-9

Registration: VH-ZNA

Serial Number: 39038

First Flew: September 2019

Age: 7.9 Years

Looking back on Air France Flight 296Q

AIR FRANCE AIRBUS A319-211 F-GRHP (MSN 1344)

Air France Flight 296Q was a chartered flight of a brand-new Airbus A320-111 operated by Air Charter International for Air France. On the 26th of June 1988, the plane crashed while making a low-level pass over Mulhouse–Habsheim Airfield as part of the Habsheim Air Show. The newly delivered Airbus was destroyed when it impacted trees during the low pass over the runway. A fire broke out, killing three occupants.

This particular flight was the A320's first passenger flight and most of those on board were journalists and raffle competition winners, having won tickets as part of a promotional event by local businesses. Many, including several unaccompanied children, had never been on an airplane previously. The low-speed flyover, with landing gear down, was supposed to take place at an altitude of 100 feet (30 m); instead, the plane performed the flyover at 30 ft (9 m), skimmed the treetops of the forest at the end of the runway (which had not been shown on the airport map given to the pilots) and crashed. 

All 136 passengers survived the initial impact, but 3 then died of smoke inhalation from the subsequent fire; a quadriplegic boy in seat 4F, a 7-year-old little girl in seat 8C, trapped by her seat being pushed forward and struggling to open the seatbelt, and an adult who, according to her partner, had reached the exit with him but then turned back to try help the 7 year old. (The child had been traveling with her older brother but seated apart; he was swept out by a flow of escapees as he tried to find his sister).

The aircraft first flew on the 6th of January 1988 and was delivered to Air France on the 23rd of June, three days prior to its destruction. It was the third A320 delivered to Air France, the launch customer.

Aircraft Information:

Airline: Air France

Code: AF/AFR

Aircraft: Airbus A320-211

Registration: F-GFKC

Serial Number: 009

Engines: CFMI CFM56-5A1

First Flew: 6th January 1988

Age: 6 months

Malaysia Airlines is now a Seven Star PLUS safety rated airline

Malaysia Airlines has earned the coveted Seven Star PLUS safety rating from AirlineRatings.com, joining an exclusive group of top airlines celebrated for outstanding cabin safety and exceptional operational standards.

This positions the airline alongside carriers such as Cathay Pacific, Etihad Airways, Air New Zealand,
STARLUX Airlines, EVA Air, Air Europa, and HK Express (Low-cost carrier) reflecting its strong safety culture and consistently high onboard operational standards.

AirlineRatings.com CEO Sharon Petersen commented on the recognition: "Particularly notable on this audit was the crew's vigilance in keeping passengers seated whenever the seatbelt sign was on. There were long periods when it remained illuminated, and passengers naturally grow restless or feel the need to move. The Malaysia Airlines crew were diligent throughout, ensuring everyone stayed seated until it was safe. Their emergency exit briefing was equally impressive.

Although not part of the audit process, a visit to the airline’s operations afterwards really showcased the impressive efforts they’ve made—especially over the past decade—to address crew resource management, human factors, and fatigue management. I’d say many other airlines could take a from Malaysia Airlines’ playbook in this area.

On the latest recognition, Bryan Foong, Chief Executive Officer of Airline Business from Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG), the parent company for Malaysia Airlines said, “The Seven Star PLUS recognition is a meaningful affirmation of the strong safety culture we have continuously built across Malaysia Aviation Group over the years. What makes this recognition especially significant is the acknowledgement of the operational discipline, crew professionalism and robust safety practices demonstrated consistently across our operations by our teams. At MAG, safety underpins every aspect of our business and remains a shared responsibility embraced by every employee across the organisation. This recognition reflects the collective commitment of our people and reinforces our focus on continuously strengthening operational resilience, enhancing our capabilities, and maintaining the highest standards of safety and operational excellence for our passengers.”

So, what does Seven Star PLUS actually mean?
Seven-Star PLUS is a safety rating that airlines earn, not something they can buy or simply ask for. To qualify, an airline must already have our top-tier Seven-Star safety rating, and only then can it for the audit that could lead to Seven-Star PLUS recognition.

The airline welcomes auditors on board for an independent, anonymous review of its cabin crew’s safety compliance, observed during regular flight conditions over six separate flights. To earn the Seven Star PLUS title, an airline must meet our strict standards throughout the audit, and not all participants qualify. Airlines needing significant improvements keep their Seven-Star safety rating and can be reassessed within a year after making changes.

The value of these audits sits with the airline and the passenger alike. For the airline, the assessment surfaces genuine cabin crew compliance gaps and helps close them early, before they become incidents or regulator findings. A safety team and a chief financial officer both understand the worth of catching a problem in time, and earning the rating gives the airline a credential that carries weight.

For travelers, Seven Star PLUS is a clear signal worth knowing. It marks an airline that opened its cabin operation to independent scrutiny and met the required standard. We hold Seven Star and Seven Star PLUS airlines in the highest safety regard, but the PLUS adds a mark of verified cabin safety compliance, earned by the airlines that chose to be tested.

Air New Zealand gets stuck in muddy grass

An Air New Zealand flight to Auckland (AKL/NZAA) was grounded in Christchurch (CHC/NZCH) Sunday morning the 21st of June 2026 after the aircraft's main wheels rolled into grass and soft ground near the taxiway.

The A320 should have departed at 5.45am, but it became firmly wedged and was still stuck in Christchurch at 7am, according to flight-tracking data Flight NZ582 had been preparing to depart when the incident occurred, the airline said. Air New Zealand chief safety and risk officer Nathan McGraw said the aircraft's main wheels "came into contact with the grass beside the taxiway" during pushback.

He said all customers had disembarked safely, and the aircraft had remained in place. "Our team is working to put on a new flight to Auckland for impacted customers later this morning," McGraw said.

A passenger told Stuff the captain originally said it would take three tugs to free the aircraft, before updating them just before 7am that they were not going anywhere.

"Will take some serious grunt to pull us free, wheels have sunk," the passenger said. McGraw said staff were working to safely return the aircraft to the gate so bags could be unloaded, and an engineering assessment could be completed.

"We thank everyone onboard for their patience and understanding while we work to get them safely to their destination," he said.

Aircraft Information:

Airline: Air New Zealand

Code: NZ/ANZ

Aircraft: Airbus A320-232

Registration: ZK-OJS

Serial Number: 4926

Engines: 2 x IAE V2527-A5

First Flew: 18th November 2011

Age: 14 Years

All FOUR engines have failed

BRITISH AIRWAYS BOEING 787-9 G-ZBKN (MSN 38630)

 

On the 24th of June 1982, British Airways Flight 009, with a callsign of Speedbird 9, was performing a scheduled flight from London Heathrow (LHR/EGLL) to Auckland (AKL/NZAA), with stops in Delhi (DEL/VIDP), Kuala Lumpur (KUL/WMKK) and Perth (PER/YPPH).

During the Kuala Lumpur - Perth sector the aircraft flew into a cloud of volcanic ash thrown up by the eruption of Mount Galunggung around 110 miles (180 km) south-east of Jakarta, Indonesia, resulting in the failure of all four engines. Partly because the event occurred at night, obscuring the cloud, the reason for the failure was not immediately apparent to the crew or air traffic control. 

Shortly after 13:40 UTC (20:40 Jakarta time) above the Indian Ocean, south of Java, the crew first noticed an unusual effect on the windscreen similar to St. Elmo's fire. Despite the weather radar showing clear skies, the crew switched on engine anti-ice and the passenger seat belt signs as a precaution.

As the flight progressed, smoke began to accumulate in the passenger cabin of the aircraft; it was first assumed to be cigarette smoke. However, it soon began to grow thicker and had an odour of sulphur. Passengers who had a view of the aircraft's engines through the window noted that they were unusually bright blue, with light shining forward through the fan blades and producing a stroboscopic effect.

Around 13:42 UTC (20:42 Jakarta time), the number four Rolls-Royce RB211 engine began surging and soon flamed out. The flight crew immediately performed the engine shutdown drill, quickly cutting off fuel supply and arming the fire extinguishers. Less than a minute later, at 13:43 UTC (20:43 Jakarta time), engine two surged and flamed out. Within seconds, and almost simultaneously, engines one and three flamed out, prompting the flight engineer to exclaim, "I don't believe it—all four engines have failed!"

Without engine thrust, a 747-200 has a glide ratio of roughly 15:1, meaning it can glide forward 15 kilometres for every kilometre it drops. The flight crew quickly determined that the aircraft was capable of gliding for 23 minutes and covering 91 nautical miles (169 km) from its flight level of 37,000 feet (11,000 m).

At 13,500 feet (4,100 m), the crew was approaching the altitude at which they would have to turn over the ocean and attempt a risky ditching. Although the crew had guidelines for the water landing procedure, no one had ever tried it in a Boeing 747. As they performed the engine restart procedure, engine number four finally started, and at 13:56 UTC (20:56 Jakarta time), Moody used its power to reduce the rate of descent. Shortly thereafter, engine three restarted, allowing him to climb slowly. Shortly after that, engines one and two successfully restarted, as well. The crew subsequently requested and expedited an increase in altitude to clear the high mountains of Indonesia.

The aircraft landed safely in Jakarta.

The route was flown by the City of Edinburgh, a Boeing 747-236B registered as G-BDXH. The crew members of the accident segment had boarded the aircraft in Kuala Lumpur, while many of the passengers had been aboard since the flight began in London.

Aircraft Information:

Airline: British Airways

Code: BA/BAW

Aircraft: Boeing 747-236

Registration: G-BDXH

Serial Number: 21635

Engines: 4 x RR RB211-524D4

First Flew: 19/03/1979

Age at incident: 3.3 Years

Looking back on Air India Flight 182

AIR INDIA BOEING 787-8 VT-ANH (MSN 36276)

On the 23rd of June 1985, Air India flight 182 disintegrated in mid-air en route from Montreal-Mirabel International Airport, QC (YMX/CYMX), Canada to London-Heathrow Airport (LHR/EGLL), United Kingdom. It was at an altitude of 31,000 feet (9,400 m) over the Atlantic Ocean. The result of the explosion from a bomb being planted by Canadian Sikh terrorists. The remnants of the airliner fell into the ocean approximately 190 kilometres (120 miles) west-southwest of the southwest tip of Ireland, killing all aboard: 329 people, including 268 Canadian citizens, 27 British citizens and 24 Indian citizens. 

The aircraft took off from Montreal at 02:18 UTC. Its estimated time of arrival at London was 08:33 UTC. At 07:15 UTC, at FL310 over the Atlantic Ocean an explosion occurred in the forward cargo compartment, causing a rapid decompression. The aft portion of the aircraft separated from the forward portion before striking the water. The wreckage sank to a depth of 6700 feet.
From the wreckage retrieved no direct evidence was found of an explosive device. However, there is a considerable amount of circumstantial and other evidence that an explosive device caused the occurrence. Furthermore, because an explosive device detonated in Tokyo the same day. Just 55 minutes before Air-India 182 crashed, A bag from CP Air Flight 003 exploded at Tokyo-Narita Airport, just 55 minutes before Air India 182 crashed. This was probably an interlined unaccompanied suitcase to be placed on Air-India Flight 301 to Bangkok.

Investigation determined that a suitcase was also interlined unaccompanied from Vancouver via CP Air Flight 060 to Toronto. In Toronto, there is nothing to suggest that the suitcase was not transferred to Terminal 2 and placed on board Air India Flight 181/182 in accordance with normal practice. The aircraft departed Toronto for Montreal-Mirabel and London with the suitcase unaccompanied.

The bombing of Air India Flight 182 is the largest mass killing in Canadian history, Canada's worst terrorist attack, the deadliest aviation incident in the history of Air India and was the deadliest act of aviation terrorism until the September 11 attacks in 2001.

Aircraft Information:

Airline: Air India

Code: AI/AIC

Aircraft: Boeing 747-237B

Registration: VT-EFO

Serial Number: 23634

Engines: 4 x PW JT9D-7A

Delivery Date: 30/06/1978

Virgin Australia launches brand new route out of Canberra

Virgin Australia is set to kick off its first international route from Canberra, with the inaugural direct flight to Bali taking off later today.

The new route will run three return flights each week between Canberra (CBR/YSCB) and Denpasar (DSP/WADD), adding over 40,000 seats a year and giving Canberrans a direct link to one of Australia’s favorite overseas holiday spots.

The service is set to benefit travelers from nearby regional areas like Batemans Bay, Bega, Cooma, Jindabyne, and Merimbula, giving them the option to fly internationally through Canberra instead of making the trip to Sydney or Brisbane.

Virgin Australia Chief Marketing and Customer Operations Officer Libby Minogue said the launch marked an important milestone for the airline. “Today marks a significant milestone for Virgin Australia as we operate our first-ever international flight from Canberra, connecting the nation’s capital directly with one of Australia’s most popular overseas destinations,” Ms. Minogue said.

The route boosts Virgin Australia’s Bali network, which already offers direct flights from Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, and the Gold Coast.

The flight details are:

• VA 127 Canberra to Bali - Departure: 4:10 PM (Canberra local time) Arrival: 8:55 PM (Denpasar local time) Flight duration: Approximately 6 hours 45 minutes.

• VA 128 Bali to Canberra - Departure: 9:45 PM (Denpasar local time) Arrival: 5:35 AM (next day, Canberra local time) Flight duration: 5 hours 50 minutes

The aircraft expected to perform the inaugural flight today is VH-8IK (MSN 65116)

Brisbane Airport to get a third passenger terminal

The Australian government has officially approved Brisbane Airport’s (BNE/YBBN) master plan, which features the construction of a third passenger terminal. Brisbane Airport plans to invest A$5 billion in infrastructure upgrades, partly to prepare for the 2032 Summer Olympics in Brisbane. The plan includes building the new terminal and renovating the two existing ones.

The approved master plan “will ensure Brisbane Airport remains a world-class gateway as we invest more than A$5 billion just in the next five years,” BNE CEO Gert-Jan de Graaff said. BNE has previously said the new Terminal 3 (T3) will be “constructed and operational by the early 2030s.”

In the draft master plan, BNE said T3 will be located between the airport’s two parallel runways. The location “will result in optimal airfield access and reduce aircraft taxi times,” according to the master plan. BNE has not settled on a specific size or initial capacity for the new terminal. BNE handled 25 million passengers in 2025, the airport’s busiest year ever. De Graaff said the master plan paves the way for the airport to have the “capacity to handle more than 50 million passengers in two decades.”

According to the master plan, “T3 will incrementally expand over the coming decades to meet growth passenger forecasts, with the size of T3 informed through terminal planning studies, airline community interests, precinct commercial opportunities and consideration of the customer experience.”

Body of a man found hidden in landing gear of Air Arabia flight

Ground crews have made a grim discovery shortly after a plane landed at a London airport, finding the body of a man the landing gear. The shocking find was reported to be in the undercarriage of an Air Arabia flight that arrived at London’s Gatwick Airport (LGW/EGKK) from Tangier, Morocco (TNG/GMTT), around 11:45 a.m. local time on Tuesday.

The man is believed to have hidden in the undercarriage bay prior to departure from Tangier Battouta International Airport, exposing himself to the unforgiving conditions of high-altitude flight. Unpressurized landing gear compartments subject individuals to sub-zero temperatures, severe hypoxia, and the mechanical dangers of retracting gear, often resulting in fatal outcomes. Air Arabia Maroc confirmed that authorities were notified immediately, while the return flight experienced minor delays. Gatwick Airport officials emphasized their emergency response, underscoring the shock experienced by ground crews who encountered the remains. Such stowaway attempts underscore desperate measures sometimes taken amid migration pressures, though they rarely succeed due to the physiological extremes at cruising altitudes.

An Air Arabia spokesperson told reporters that “an incident was identified upon the arrival of Air Arabia Maroc Flight 3O102 from Tangier to London Gatwick on the 16th of June 2026, and the relevant authorities were immediately notified”.

It is not the first incident of its kind in London though, with several other reported deaths of stowaways in recent years.

• A man died in December 2022 in a similar incident at Gatwick Airport when he was discovered in the undercarriage of a Tui Flight from Gambia.
• In 2019 a man fell from a Kenya Airways plane’s landing gear as it approached Heathrow Airport. His body was found several kilometres away in a home garden.
• Another man also fell to his death in 2015 after travelling in the undercarriage of a plane from Johannesburg. His body was found in the carpark of a shop in Southwest London.
• It was reported at the time that a South African man on the same flight miraculously survived the 11-hour flight by clinging to the landing gear on the plane.

Aircraft Information:
Airline: Air Arabia Maroc
Code: 3O/MAC
Aircraft: Airbus A320-214
Registration: CN-NMH
Serial Number: 5143
Engines: 2 x CFMI CFM56-5B4/P
First Flew: 2nd May 2012
Age: 14 years

Our thoughts are with everyone affected by this incident.

Japan Airlines CEO has taken a 30% pay cut due to crew members allegedly breaching company policies

Japan Airlines CEO Mitsuko Tottori has taken a 30% pay cut to accept institutional accountability and responsibility following incidents where flight attendants and pilots violated company alcohol policies. JAL also responded by banning all 6,000 of its flight attendants from drinking alcohol on work layovers. According to a report the incident involved two cabin crew members allegedly breaching company alcohol policies during a layover period. Reports indicate that the issue came to light after pre-duty checks identified a problem involving at least one crew member, resulting in operational disruption and an internal review.

The situation has since triggered a wider response from the airline, including disciplinary measures and tighter rules affecting both frontline staff and senior management. With Japan Airlines tightening enforcement and applying executive-level consequences.

On the 23rd of May, a flight attendant scheduled to operate a Japan Airlines domestic service, JL252, tested positive for alcohol during a routine pre-flight screening. The crew member was deemed unfit for duty and immediately removed from the assignment, requiring the airline to source a replacement at short notice, which contributed to a delay of approximately 50 minutes to the scheduled departure.

The affected service operated between Hiroshima Airport (HIJ/RJOA) and Tokyo Haneda Airport (HND/RJTT), one of Japan Airlines’ high-frequency domestic routes connecting a regional airport with the airline’s main Tokyo hub. Pre-flight alcohol testing is a standard procedure across Japanese carriers designed to confirm compliance with strict fitness-for-duty rules before departure.

A subsequent internal investigation found that two flight attendants had consumed alcohol during their layover period beyond permitted company limits, which set specific restrictions on pre-duty alcohol intake. The airline determined that the consumption occurred the day before departure and represented a breach of internal policy, escalating the matter from a single failed test to a wider compliance violation within the crew pairing on that layover.

Japan Airlines responded by implementing disciplinary measures affecting both frontline staff and senior management. CEO Mitsuko Tottori, the first female to lead the company after joining as a flight attendant herself in 1985, accepted a 30% reduction in salary for two months, while other executives also received temporary pay cuts as part of the company’s internal accountability process. Safety manager Yukio Nakagawa and cabin services manager Junko Nakano will each take a 20% salary reduction for one month.

Meanwhile, all other directors will receive a 10% pay cut over the same period, according to reports. Alongside executive action, the airline introduced a stricter policy banning alcohol consumption during layovers for more than 6,000 flight attendants. The change was intended to remove ambiguity in existing rules and strengthen enforcement of pre-duty alcohol restrictions across operational staff.

The response reflects a governance approach in which senior leadership shares responsibility for systemic compliance failures, combining individual disciplinary action with broader policy tightening aimed at preventing recurrence of similar incidents. Japan’s transport ministry reprimanded Japan Airlines following the incident and required the airline to submit preventive measures to address gaps in compliance monitoring.

Jetstar to launch flights ahead of Singapore from Western Sydney International Airport

Jetstar has taken the spotlight from Singapore Airlines and will now become the first commercial airline to operate from Western Sydney International Airport (WSI) when it launches services on the 25th of October 2026, with Qantas to follow in mid-March 2027.

The announcement follows the Qantas Group and WSI Airport sealing a five-year deal for domestic passenger flights and freight. The agreement gives both airlines the flexibility to plan their schedules as demand in Western Sydney continues to rise. WSI is the first major greenfield international airport built in Australia in over half a century.

Jetstar will make history with the first commercial passenger flight from the airport with flight JQ362, departing at 11:00 local time on the 25th of October departing for the Gold Coast Airport (OOL/YBCG). The airline will operate up to 14 flights per week between WSI and Melbourne Airport (MEL/YMML), four weekly flights to the Gold Coast, and three weekly flights to Brisbane Airport (BNE/YBBN). All services will use an Airbus A320 aircraft.

Qantas passenger services will begin on the 28th of March 2027 with four flights per week to both Melbourne and Brisbane, operated by QantasLink Embraer E190 aircraft.

Before passenger flights begin, Qantas will be one of the first commercial operators at the airport when its inaugural freighter service takes off from WSI’s 24-hour Cargo Precinct on the evening of the 27th of July 2026. More than 850 tons of freight are expected to move through the Qantas terminal each week, supporting e-commerce and next-day deliveries.

Singapore Airlines had officially been confirmed as the first airline to depart from the new airport, but, it will still be the first international carrier to operate out of the brand-new Western Sydney International Airport, otherwise known as Nancy-Bird Walton. 

(Nancy-Bird Walton was a pioneering Australian aviator, known as "The Angel of the Outback")

Photos from Sunday's spotting trip

Here are photos from Sunday morning’s spotting trip.

AIR CANADA BOEING 787-9 C-FGEO (MSN 37180)
AC36 OFF TO VANCOUVER (YVR) 10 YEARS

QANTAS BOEING 737-838 VH-VZR (MSN 34193)
QF185 OFF TO QUEENSTOWN (ZQN) 14 YEARS

CATHAY PACIFIC AIRBUS A350-941 B-LQG (MSN 615)
CX165 ARRIVING FROM HONG KONG (HKG) 3 YEARS

CHINA SOUTHERN AIRBUS A330-323 B-5970 (MSN 1645)
CZ382 OFF TO GUANGZHOU (CAN) 10 YEARS

AIR NEW ZEALAND BOEING 777-319 ZK-OKQ (MSN 40689)
NZ145 ARRIVING FROM AUCKLAND (AKL) 14 YEARS

CHINA AIRLINES AIRBUS A350-941 B-18901 (MSN 049)
CI53 ARRIVING FROM TAIPEI (TPE) 9 YEARS

JETSTAR BOEING 787-8 VH-VKE (MSN 36230)
JQ66 ARRIVING FROM BANGKOK (BKK) 12 YEARS

UNITED AIRLINES BOEING 777-222 N209UA (MSN 30215)
UA97 OFF TO SAN FRANCISCO (SFO) 26 YEARS

JETSTAR AIRBUS A321-251NX VH-OYU (MSN 12030)
JQ558 ARRIVING FROM MELBOURNE (MEL) 1 YEAR

QANTASLINK DASH 8 Q400 VH-LQF (MSN 4375)
QLK312D ARRIVING FROM CANBERRA (CBR) 15 YEARS

QANTAS BOEING 737-838 VH-XZP (MSN 44577)
QF945 OFF TO PERTH (PER) 11 YEARS

QANTAS AIRBUS A321-271NY (XLR) VH-OGG (MSN 12853)
QF6042 ARRIVING FROM BENGALURU (BLR) BRAND NEW

QANTAS BOEING 737-8SA VH-XZT (MSN 44230) 10 YEARS

CHINA EASTERN AIRBUS A330-243 B-5937 (MSN 1468)
MU716 OFF TO SHANGHAI (PVG) 12 YEARS

QANTAS AIRBUS A330-303 VH-QPB (MSN 558)
QF51 OFF TO TOKYO (NRT) 22 YEARS

PHILIPPINES AIRBUS A321-271N RP-C9933 (MSN 8242)
PR222 OFF TO MANILA (MNL) 7 YEARS

QANTAS AIRBUS A321-271NY (XLR) VH-OGA (MSN 12323)
QF516 ARRIVING FROM SYDNEY (SYD) 1 YEAR

JETSTAR AIRBUS A320-232 VH-VFH (MSN 5211)
JQ753 OFF TO LAUNCESTON (LST) 13 YEARS

QANTASLINK EMBRAER E190AR VH-UZK (MSN 19000198)
QLK1983 ARRIVING FROM NEWCASTLE (NTL) 18 YEARS

FIJI AIRWAYS BOEING 737- MAX 8 DQ-FAD (MSN 64308)
FJ920 OFF TO NADI (NAN) 7 YEARS

TEXEL AIR FREIGHT BOEING 737-86N ZK-TXF (MSN 36804) 15 YEARS

QANTAS AIRBUS A22-300 VH-X4A (MSN 55253)
QLK1592 OFF TO HAMILTON ISLAND (HTI) 2 YEARS

EMIRATES AIRBUS A380-861 A6-EOE (MSN 169) 11 YEARS

SINGAPORE AIRLINES AIRBUS A350-941 9V-SHC (MSN 276)
SQ236 OFF TO SINGAPORE (SIN) 7 YEARS

B-52 bomber crash at US Air Force base in California

                       BREAKING NEWS 

A US Air Force B-52H Stratofortress, operated by 412th Test Wing, has crashed shortly after takeoff from Edwards AFB (EDW/KEDW), Edwards, California killing all 8 people on board.

"Initial indications are that the crash was not survivable," the Edwards Air Force Base posted on social media.

There was no information on the crew, however, aerial footage showed virtually nothing left of the aircraft.

Thick black smoke billowed from a scorched stretch of desert at Edwards Air Force Base, close to what looked like a runway, as emergency vehicles clustered nearby. The military has not confirmed whether the bomber was armed, and investigations are still underway.

The airfield remains closed and all inbound aircraft are being diverted.

Officials announced that non-commercial visitor passes for the base have been suspended to the installation focus completely on emergency response operations.

The Boeing B-52 Stratofortress is a long-range bomber that’s been in service since 1955. Built to carry both conventional and nuclear weapons, it has seen action in U.S. military conflicts from Vietnam to Iran. In conventional warfare, the B-52 can take on roles like strategic attack, close-air support, air interdiction, offensive counter-air, and maritime operations, according to the Air Force.


Aircraft Information:
Owner/Operator: United States Air Force 
Aircraft: Boeing B-52 Stratofortress 

Registration: 60-0061

Serial Number 464426

Engines: 8× Pratt & Whitney TF33-P-3 turbofans

Our thoughts and prayers are with the United States Air Force, the immediate families and friends of the decease.

Qantas' Great Barrier Reef arrives in Brisbane

On Sunday my family and I returned to our second home, the Brisbane Airport, to watch the arrival of the 7th Qantas Airbus A321-271NY (XLR). This one had a special livery featuring Great Barrier Reef decals, and we were eager to be among the first to see it.

QANTAS AIRBUS A321-271NY (XLR) VH-OGG (MSN 12853)

Qantas now have 7 out of the 28 Airbus A321-271NY (XLR) ordered.

Registration        Name                        Delivery                    

VH-OGA     Great Ocean Road     Delivered 1st of July 2025
VH-OGB     Outback Way             Delivered 24th of August 2025,        
VH-OGC     Seven Peaks Walk     Delivered 5th of December 2025
VH-OGD     Bibbulmun Track       Delivered 22nd February 2026
VH-OGE     Murray River              Delivered 17th of April 2026 
VH-OGF     Red Centre                 Delivered 1st of May 2026
VH-OGG     Coral Sea                   Delivered 14th of June 2026

Qantas has ordered 28 A321XLRs for the mainline Qantas fleet to replace Boeing 737s.
Jetstar will receive a further 12 A321XLRs.

The registrations, VH-OGA, OGB, OGC, etc. were once used by Qantas' Boeing 767 fleet. 

VH-OGA was delivered in September 1988.

The final passenger Boeing 767-300ER in Qantas service was VH-OGL on the 27th of December 2014, it operated flight: QF767 from Melbourne → Sydney and was named City of Wangaratta.

The Boeing 767 played a major role in Qantas history, bridging the gap between the airline’s large 747s and later A330s for nearly four decades. 

It is ironic that the original 767, VH-OGG, featured a special Pixar movie Planes livery, and now the new version of the OGG is also adorned with a special livery.

The A321XLR is expected to become the backbone of Qantas' domestic fleet, gradually replacing the ageing Boeing 737-800 fleet.

Qantas is the first airline in the Asia-Pacific region to operate the A321XLR.

A best way to frame the story is that the A321XLR marks the most significant upgrade to Qantas’ domestic fleet since the Boeing 737 joined in the 1980s, offering transcontinental range along with much better fuel and enhanced passenger comfort.

Air Canada pilot caught flying without correct license

Air Canada has addressed a monetary penalty imposed by Transport Canada on a former pilot who had been operating as a captain without holding the correct type of license.

AIR CANADA BOEING 787-9 C-FGDT (MSN 37171)

The airline said that the pilot, who had been promoted to captain, held a valid Commercial Pilots License and was fully trained, but did not hold an Airline Transport Pilot License (ATPL), which is the certification required by Canadian regulations for captains of large aircraft operated by airlines. An ATPL is obtained by passing a series of written exams beyond what a commercial license requires.

Air Canada said it removed the pilot from active duty immediately upon discovering the issue and voluntarily reported the matter to Transport Canada. The former pilot is no longer employed by the airline, and an active criminal investigation is underway.

The airline also said it conducted an audit of its entire pilot group following the discovery and found no other instances of non-compliance. It has since reinforced its administrative practices around verifying pilot licenses, including physically checking original documents issued by Transport Canada.

Air Canada stressed that safety was not compromised during the 12-month period the pilot was flying as captain. The airline pointed to its mandatory recurrent training program, which requires all pilots to validate their flying competency every six months, along with a flight check conducted by a certified Transport Canada check pilot every 12 months.

“Throughout his employment with Air Canada, the individual in question was a fully trained pilot who held a valid Commercial Pilot License, and he successfully met or exceeded the required recurrent training, demonstrating a high level of competency to safely operate large aircraft,” the airline said.

At the same time, Air Canada acknowledged that proper licensing is a critical layer in the aviation industry’s approach to safety. 

According to Transport Canada, there were 18 offences in 2025 in Ontario related to operating a flight without holding the appropriate permit, with fines totaling CAD 67,500 (US $49,000 - AU $69,065). 

Plane spotting from the Brisbane Airport IBIS Hotel room (Part One)

A few days ago, I mentioned that my family and I attended the OPN 50,000 subscribers’ party on the top floor of the IBIS Hotel at Brisbane Airport. We decided to stay the night, but unfortunately, the roof access was closed except for events and guests buying the plane-spotting package. This meant we had to take photos from our room, which had double-glazed, soundproof windows. Once the function began, I took my camera upstairs and managed to snap a few shots from there as well at night.

QANTAS AIRBUS A321-271NX VH-OGB (MSN 12427)
QF528 ARRIVING FROM SYDNEY (SYD) 1 YEAR

SINGAPORE AIRLINES AIRBUS A350-941 9V-SHP (MSN 436)
SQ236 OFF TO SINGAPORE (SIN) 5 YEARS

QANTASLINK EMBRAER E190AR VH-UYF (MSN 19000038)
QLK1804 COMING IN FROM CANBERRA (CBR) 20 YEARS

AIR NIUGINI BOEING 767-383 P2-PXW (MSN 25365)
PX4 OFF TO PORT MORESBY (POM) 34 YEARS

ALLIANCE AIRLINES FOKKER 70 VH-JFE (MSN 11545)
VA1265 OFF TO EMERALD (EMD) 30 YEARS
FLYING FOR VIRGIN AUSTRALIA

ALLIANCE AIRLINES EMBRAER E190AR VH-A2T (MSN 19000179)
BEING TOWED OFF THE BAY

QANTAS BOEING 737-838 VH-VZM (MSN 34192)
QF618 ARRIVING FROM MELBOURNE (MEL)15 YEARS

ALLIANCE AIRLINES FOKKER 70 VH-NUU (MSN 11532)
QQ2835 ARRIVING FROM MORANBAH (MOV) 31 YEARS

LINK AIRWAYS FAIRCHILD METRO 23 VH-VEU (MSN DC-797B)
LR7714 ARRIVING FROM NARRABRI (NAA) 34 YEARS

QUEENSLAND POLICE BEECH KING AIR 360 VH-8TT (MSN FL-1293)

TEAM GLOBAL EXPRESS BOEING 737-8BK ZK-TXB (MSN 29644)
TFX51 ARRIVING FROM DARWIN (DRW) 19 YEARS

VIRGIN AUSTRALIA BOEING 737- MAX 8 VH-8VE (MSN 67041)
VA1398 OFF TO ADELAIDE (ADL) 1 YEAR

BACK - QANTAS AIRBUS A330-202 VH-EBC (MSN 506) OLD FONT
FRONT - QANTAS AIRBUS A330-202 VH-EBR (MSN 1251) NEW FONT

SINGAPORE AIRLINES AIRBUS A350-941 9V-SHJ (MSN 328)
SQ265 ARRIVING FROM SINGAPORE (SIN) 6 YEARS

VIRGIN AUSTRALIA BOEING 737-8SA (MSN 44224)
VA962 OFF TO SYDNEY (SYD) 11 YEARS

JETSTAR AIRBUS A321-251NX VH-OYQ (MSN12020)
JQ59 OFF TO DENPASAR (DPS) 2 YEARS

QATAR AIRWAYS AIRBUS A350-1041 A7-ANR (MSN 399)
QR898 ARRIVING FROM DOHA (DOH) 6 YEARS

QANTAS AIRBUS A330-202 VH-EBA (MSN 508)
QF536 ARRIVING FROM SYDNEY (SYD) 23 YEARS

SINGAPORE AIRLINES AIRBUS A350-941 9V-SHJ (MSN 328)
SQ266 DEPARTING FOR SINGAPORE (SIN) 6 YEARS

GATEWAY TOLL BRIDGE

JETSTAR AIRBUS A321-251NX VH-OYV (MSN 12159)
JQ964 OFF TO PERTH (PER) 1 YEAR

EMIRATES AIRBUS A380-842 A6-EVM (MSN 264)
EK435 OFF TO DUBAI (DXB) 6 YEARS

QANTASLINK AIRBUS A220-300 VH-X4A (MSN 55253)
QLK1284 ARRIVING FROM ADELAIDE (ADL) 2 YEARS

QANTAS AIRBUS A330-202 VH-EBR (MSN 1251)
QF15 OF TO LOA ANGELES (LAX) 14 YEARS

CATHAY PACIFIC AIRBUS A350-941 B-LQG (MSN 615)
CX157 ARRIVING FROM HONG KONG (HKG) 3 YEARS

QANTAS BOEING 737-838 VH-XZG (MSN 39371)