A serious incident on a long-haul flight from Rome to Sydney has brought the safety of long-haul flights back into focus. A tire failure on a Qantas Boeing 787-9 resulted in tire fragments hitting the wings at high speed, causing significant damage.
What is worrying is that this damage was only discovered at the destination, Perth, after a 15-hour flight. This incident has not only raised questions about the safety checks on aircraft, but has also underlined the importance of routine checks before take-off and after landing. The Australian Air Accidents Board (ATSB) has now launched an investigation to clarify the exact circumstances of the incident.
On July 21, 2024, Qantas' Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, registration VH-ZNC, took off from Rome Fiumicino Airport (FCO) bound for Sydney, with a scheduled stopover in Perth (PER). Flight QF6 is one of the longest in Qantas' schedule, requiring a non-stop flight time of more than 15 hours from Rome to Perth.
According to initial findings, a tire failure occurred during the takeoff run in Rome. Individual rubber parts came loose from the tire tread and hit the wing of the aircraft at high speed. These impacts caused visible damage to the wing and the landing flaps. Despite this damage, the aircraft was able to continue its flight safely and finally landed in Perth after a flight time of 15 hours and 22 minutes. It was only there that maintenance personnel discovered the serious impact points during a routine external check.
Investigations and security concerns
Immediately after the damage was discovered, the Australian Air Accident Bureau (ATSB) and Qantas were informed of the incident. The ATSB has launched a comprehensive investigation to determine the causes and exact sequence of events. Among other things, it is looking into why the damage was only discovered after the long flight time and whether Qantas' safety procedures need to be improved.
A central point of the investigation is the question of whether there would have been an opportunity to discover the tire damage in Rome. The fact that such serious damage was only discovered after such a long flight raises questions about the effectiveness of the preflight inspections. Normally, a thorough visual inspection of the aircraft is carried out before each flight, paying particular attention to obvious damage and wear. It remains to be clarified why the damaged tire parts and their impact on the wing were not noticed immediately after takeoff.
Consequences and Measures
The aviation industry places the safety of passengers and crew at the forefront, but the Qantas incident raises concerns about safety practices and aircraft maintenance. In response to this incident, safety protocols may be reviewed and adjusted to ensure similar incidents can be prevented in the future.
Qantas has a strong safety record in the past, but the incident highlights the need to continually monitor and improve safety standards. The Boeing 787-9, the aircraft type involved in the incident, has experienced problems in the past, with repeated reports of structural and technical defects that required correction during flight preparation and maintenance.
Impact on passengers and operations
The incident had an immediate impact on passengers on flight QF6. The onward flight from Perth to Sydney had to be cancelled for safety reasons and passengers were rebooked on alternative flights. Qantas apologised to passengers for the inconvenience and assured them that safety was its top priority.
The Boeing 787-9 involved was immediately taken out of service for further investigation and repairs. It remains to be seen what long-term consequences this incident will have for Qantas and its fleet. The airline has pledged to work closely with the investigating authorities to determine the causes of the incident and take any necessary corrective measures.
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