A Qantas flight was delayed for almost 24 hours after it collided with a jet bridge at the airport.
According to a report by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), the incident occurred around 9:30 AM on Saturday at Sydney Airport. The Qantas A380 was preparing to depart for Johannesburg. However, a jet bridge crashed into one of the aircraft’s engines during “ground operations” at the departure gate.
The outlet explains that authorities have announced no injuries to staff or crew. Flight QF63 could reportedly hold more than 480 passengers and was roughly three-quarters full. Passengers were forced to exit the plane via the lower decks after the impact. The incident also caused significant delays for passengers as their next available plane to Johannesburg wouldn’t depart until 6:30 AM on Sunday. Qantas told ABC that the company would pay for accommodation for stranded passengers and transportation into Sydney.
Per a report by People, a spokesperson for the airline confirmed to the outlet that a jet bridge “made contact” with one of the A380’s four Rolls-Royce engines. “We know flight disruptions are frustrating, and we apologize to our customers for the impact to their travel,” they said. Sydney Airport also shared a statement with the outlet, saying it was “working closely with Qantas as they investigate the cause of the incident and thank passengers for their patience and understanding.”
The Jet Bridge Punctured One Of The Qantas Plane Engines
An article by Sky News shows an image of the jet bridge punching a hole in the plane’s engine. A spokesperson confirmed, “The aircraft will be inspected by engineers in Sydney and repaired before returning to service.” The outlet also points out that a similar incident affected Qantas passengers just last month. A jet bridge reportedly struck a Boeing 737-800 at Brisbane airport, and the impact shattered the plane’s front windscreens. Nobody was injured.
Last month, Delta airlines was forced to inspect over 100 of its planes after hailstorms battered Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. A spokesperson for Delta said, “The weather impacts have resulted in more than 380 system cancellations for Saturday.” The storm was so severe that the airport evacuated the Atlanta control tower. Only two workers reportedly stayed on site to manage air traffic.