“Terrifying”: Qantas plane passengers evacuated after smoke filled cabin
Passengers on a Qantas flight was forced to evacuate through slides at Sydney Airport after smoke and “burning” smell filled the cabin.
The airline’s spokesperson said the Sydney to Perth flight QF575 on Sunday morning was forced to turn around 20 minutes into the flight due to hydraulic issues.
Passengers told the ABC the plane was on the tarmac after landing when smoke began to fill the cabin.
“We were on the runway waiting to be towed in and we started to smell burning,” passenger Dillon Parker said.
@Qantas flight #QF575 mid-flight hydraulic issue, landed back in Sydney, smoke in cabin, passengers told to evacuate, flight crew could not taxi correctly after landing due to hydraulic issues, slides activated.
Brother was on flight. @SevenPerth @Channel7 @abcnews @9NewsSyd pic.twitter.com/SzrzhbcxDh— Richo Hannington (@RichoHannington) December 14, 2019
The flight took off from Sydney Airport at around 8.45am (AEDT) and returned before 9.30am.
The Airbus A330 was unable to taxi upon landing and had to be towed to the gate.
The Qantas spokesperson told Yahoo News Australia the flight did not require an emergency landing.
“Once back at the gate, the captain made the decision to evacuate the aircraft as a precaution and three emergency slides were deployed,” the spokesperson said. “Passengers were evacuated through both the slides and normal exits.”
Qantas Fleet safety captain Debbie Slade said some of the passengers may have had “itchy eyes” or a “scratchy throat” from exposure to the hydraulic fluid leak.
“The crew did a great job of putting their training into action and following the procedures for a set of circumstances like this,” Slade said.
“We’ll investigate exactly what happened, including liaising with Airbus, before this aircraft is returned to service.”
Slade said what appeared to be smoke might have been “mist from the hydraulic system”.
Some people said they sustained injuries to their arms and legs as they were exiting the aircraft.
NSW Ambulance said “all patients had been evacuated” with one passenger being taken to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital for “minor injuries”.
Qantas said it would assist the Civil Aviation Safety Authority and the Australian Transport Safety Bureau in its investigation.
“Qantas is providing support to customers on the affected flight and managing some delays to other flights that occurred as a result of this incident,” the airline said.
“The airline extends its thanks to all customers for their patience and understanding.”