SYDNEY- A Qantas (QF) Airbus A380 damaged after an aerobridge collided with one of its engines at Sydney Airport (SYD), postponing its flight to Johannesburg (JNB) by nearly 21 hours. The incident disrupted QF63, which was originally scheduled for a 9:30 AM departure.
No injuries were reported among passengers, but the collision forced a complete disembarkation and an overnight delay. The aircraft is currently undergoing inspection and repairs by engineers in Sydney.
Photo: By Eric Salard – https://www.flickr.com/photos/airlines470/17232473348/, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=40059712Qantas A380 Damaged
The scheduled Qantas flight QF63 from Sydney (SYD) to Johannesburg (JNB) encountered unexpected disruption on Saturday when an aerobridge struck one of the aircraft’s engines.
The impact damaged both the upper and lower sections of the engine casing on the Qantas Airbus A380. The 15-hour international flight was postponed, with departure rescheduled for 6:45 AM the following day.
Qantas confirmed that no passengers were injured. Travelers who had already boarded the plane were asked to disembark using the aircraft’s lower deck.
The airline has provided hotel accommodation for affected passengers and issued a formal apology for the disruption.
According to Qantas, an internal investigation is underway to determine how the aerobridge, typically used to board passengers, collided with the engine. Engineers will assess the aircraft and conduct repairs before it reenters service.
Previous Safety Incident
The incident comes months after a separate safety failure involving Qantas operations. On May 3, a Qantas customer experience supervisor, Olivia Hristovska, fell six metres through a damaged aerobridge at Sydney Airport (SYD).
Reported to the Daily Mail, she suffered life-threatening injuries, including a fractured spine, head trauma, and a collapsed lung.
Her daughters, Monique and Sienna, said they were informed of the accident by hospital staff rather than the airline.
Monique stated her mother had since been discharged but continued to suffer cognitive and physical impairments. “Bones can heal, but the brain… You don’t know. She’s lost her identity,” she said.
The family now serves as her full-time caregivers and has emphasized the lasting effects of such workplace incidents.
“It’s not just the event itself, but the long-term effects on her body, mind, and our family,” Monique added.
Photo: By BriYYZ from Toronto, Canada – QANTAS Airbus A380 VH-OQA, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=41133481Ongoing Investigation
Qantas has reiterated its commitment to passenger safety and operational standards. In light of both incidents, the aerobridge collision and the earlier fall, the airline is likely to face renewed scrutiny over its ground operations and safety protocols.
While the airline has apologized for the inconvenience caused by the delayed Johannesburg flight, it has not yet indicated whether systemic changes will be implemented to prevent similar events in the future.
Passengers affected by the delay were offered overnight lodging and alternative arrangements, though many expressed frustration at the prolonged wait. The full extent of the damage to the aircraft remains under assessment.
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