Stuff happens, but I can definitely understand how this incident leaves a lot of people feeling uneasy, as reported by 2PAXfly…
The most significant thing that happened is that on approach to California, a section of the slat on the left wing became damaged, so the plane lost part of its wing.
That’s not all, though — according to a passenger onboard, the plane also had all kinds of electrical issues — reportedly many TVs weren’t working, many seats wouldn’t recline, and some of the toilets were overflowing. At least this is what was shared by Lynn Gilmartin on Instagram, who was on the flight.
As you’d expect, the return flight, QF12, was canceled. The plane has now been grounded in Los Angeles since its landing on Sunday. Maintenance personnel are working on addressing these issues, including fixing the wing, of course.
What’s my take on the issue with the aircraft as such? Broadly speaking, the work that goes into aircraft maintenance is incredibly impressive, and it’s one of the reasons that aviation is as safe as it is. People don’t realize how much money and labor goes into maintaining aircraft, and just how much work is performed when there are heavy maintenance checks. Many part of planes are basically taken apart and put back together.
Beyond that, though, I’m not sure what to make of this incident, and it’s beyond my area of expertise. Did the maintenance team mess something up in Abu Dhabi? Was there no way this could’ve been anticipated? Or was this somehow just a really unlucky coincidence?
In theory, I can’t help but find it a bit eery when a plane reenters service after being grounded for years. But then I also remind myself of how often planes are grounded, and how they consistently reenter service without a hitch. The whole reason this story is newsworthy is because of how rare situations like this are…
Bottom line
Qantas recently boasted how its final Airbus A380 has returned to service after being grounded for six years, only for the first flight with passengers to be a disaster. The plane lost a section of the slat of the wing while enroute, and also had major electrical issues, impacting entertainment, seat recline, and more.
A great solo travel tip spotted this week on One Mile at a Time.
