Source: Radio Australia Author: 07/29/2008
Subject Concerned: Government Aircraft Airlines
Evidence uncovered by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau has lent weight to a suggestion that an exploding oxygen cylinder caused a mid air emergency on a Qantas flight last week.
The Qantas flight to Melbourne lost cabin pressure and dropped 6,000 feet when an explosion ripped a hole in the side of the plane forcing an emergency landing in Manila.
The ATSB now says a missing oxygen tank was from a bank which supplied oxygen to the passenger masks and cabin crew.
Parts including a valve have also been found.
Qantas Chief Executive Geoff Dixon issues he's confident that the 747 was well maintained in.
"We believe everything in that aircraft was in good shape when it took off," he said.
The ATSB says it will examine the oxygen system and passenger allegations that the masks did not work properly.
And in another incident, Qantas says there was no safety risk posed by a mechanical failure on one of its planes bound for Melbourne last night.
The airline says flight QF692 performed a routine air turnback to Adelaide Airport because there was an indication that the plane's landing gear doors had failed to retract.