Passenger live-tweets 'rapid emergency descent' on Qantas plane
A passenger on board a Qantas flight from Dubai to Sydney tweeted his way through an 'emergency descent' to Perth after a fault with the plane's air conditioning system.
According to the Sydney Morning Herald, the plane was just off the coast of Western Australia on Monday morning when the captain announced over the loudspeaker that he would be making a rapid descent from 39,000ft to about 9,000ft.
One passenger, Nigel Richardson, tweeted about the experience, and praised the Qantas cabin crew.
Words you don't expect to hear while on a plane "Cabin crew this is an emergency descent" #qantas#qf2
- Nigel Richardson (@NigelRichardson) December 7, 2014
Fastest descent I've ever experienced in a plane. Always interesting when you see cabin crew running too...#qantas#qf2
- Nigel Richardson (@NigelRichardson) December 7, 2014
Air conditioning problem. Aircraft not in danger. Crew very calm and professional. #qantas#qf2
- Nigel Richardson (@NigelRichardson) December 7, 2014
Laps over Perth before unplanned landing. #qantas#qf2pic.twitter.com/ZneNywKZZe
- Nigel Richardson (@NigelRichardson) December 7, 2014
Emergency vehicles on site at landing as precaution. Crew calm and reassuring but some very nervous passengers on board #qantas#qf2
- Nigel Richardson (@NigelRichardson) December 7, 2014
Full shut down of air conditioning system that keeps plane pressurised at altitude was the problem. #qantas#qf2
- Nigel Richardson (@NigelRichardson) December 7, 2014
Plenty of passengers (self included) waiting to get off #qantas#QF2 Staff working on logistics for us all. Qantas comms still excellent.
- Nigel Richardson (@NigelRichardson) December 7, 2014
Re-booking done. Many thanks to @qantas for looking after us so well. #qantas#qf2
- Nigel Richardson (@NigelRichardson) December 7, 2014
Safe and sound in Melbourne. Never been happier to be home. Ready to sleep for about a week... #qantas#qf2
- Nigel Richardson (@NigelRichardson) December 8, 2014
According to the Daily Mail, a Qantas spokesman said: "Qantas Flight QF2 travelling from Dubai to Sydney diverted to Perth due to a fault with the air conditioning. The fault occurred about one hour from Perth.
"As a precaution the aircraft descended to 10,000 feet and the Captain requested a priority landing .
"The aircraft landed safely and was inspected by engineers."
The spokesman added that "crew reached their maximum duty limits before the issue could be fixed on the ground" so some customers were provided with overnight accommodation and were booked on the next available services the next day.
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