Qantas flight forced to turn back after passengers realise door was 'whistling'

A QANTAS pilot has made the costly decision to turn back to Sydney after passengers reported a “whistling” noise coming from one of the plane’s doors.

Qantas flight QF7 was only a few hours into its trip to Dallas, Texas — one of the longest flights the company offers — when the noise started.

The flight had been in the air for less than three hours when it was diverted back to Sydney.

Qantas said the safety of passengers were never at risk but admitted the noise — which passengers would’ve been listening to for 10 more hours — would’ve become annoying.

In a statement to news.com.au, a spokesman for Qantas said “a door seal was creating a high pitched whistling noise in the cabin so in the interests of passenger comfort the captain decided to return to Sydney.

“Cabin pressure was always maintained and the aircraft landed safely and without incident.

“Engineers are inspecting the aircraft.”

The flight took off from Kingsford Smith Airport earlier this afternoon and was forced to dump some of its fuel into the ocean in order to make the safe landing.

This isn’t the first time passengers on a QF7, Sydney to Dallas flight, have been forced to land back in Sydney.

In August last year, a flight from the same route landed back in Sydney hours after it took off due to “engineering issues”.

“The flaps on the aircraft (attached to the wing) are unable to retract which means the aircraft can’t fly efficiently,” Qantas said at the time.

“As the Dallas flight is our longest on the network, the captain made the decision to return to Sydney.”

Also today, in another flight incident, two French nationals were charged after their drunken dispute on a flight from Bali to Perth caused the plane to be diverted to Port Hedland.

Police allege the 32-year-old man and 29-year-old woman were intoxicated and started arguing, and their disorderly behaviour escalated to the point where he had to be restrained by crew and passengers.

The pair were taken into custody in South Hedland before the flight continued to Perth, where federal police spoke to witnesses.

They were each charged with two offences under civil aviation laws and are due to appear in the Perth Magistrates Court on September 14.

— With Wires

Let's block ads! (Why?)