Fire in cockpit of Jetstar flight to Gold Coast
AAP
June 11, 2009 07:27am
A JETSTAR flight from Japan to the Gold Coast has made an emergency landing in Guam after fire broke out in the cockpit.
The A330-200 aircraft - flight JQ 20 - left Kansai International Airport just before 11pm (AEST) Wednesday Australian time carrying 186 adult passengers, four infants and 13 crew including 9 cabin crew and 4 pilots.
Simone Pregellio from Jetstar says 44 of the adult passengers and the 13 crew members are Australian - most of the others are Japanese nationals.
The airline says almost four hours into the flight, smoke was seen in the cockpit and moments later the right hand cockpit window caught fire.
"There was smoke in the cockpit and small flames were seen on the right hand window," she said.
"The pilots quickly extinguished the fire which didn't extend to any part of the cabin area."
Passenger Adam told 3AW most passengers on the plane were either asleep or getting ready to sleep when a strange smell filled the cabin and the plane diverted almost four hours into the flight.
"A lot of people didn't really know what was going on, (they were) just woken up to be told we're landing in Guam," Adam said.
"It smelled like someone was cooking something, it was a weird smell."
He said he could see two fire engines when the plane landed at Guam, but passengers were still kept on the craft while authorities "tried to figure out what to do with us".
The aircraft landed without incident at Guam International Airport at 2.20am (AEST) Australian time yesterday.
Passengers were put up in local hotels in Guam and are being flown to Australia this morning.
"We're sending a plane from Sydney to collect the passengers and crew, it will leave at 11am (AEST) this morning and is due to depart from Guam at six o'clock tonight to fly back to Brisbane," Ms Pregellio said.
Ms Pregellio said the A330-200 aircraft which caught fire is being examined by engineers in Guam.
Jetstar managing director Bruce Buchanan has congratulated the pilot for his efforts in saving all aboard.
"He has really done a fantastic job and gone over the odds in leveraging his training and skills in what he did and what he has done since for the customers," Mr Buchanan said.
The Australian Transport Safety Board recently reported a similar problem where smoke was emitted from a heater element on a Qantas Boeing 747 which landed in Sydney. The safety regulator noted at the time that Boeing was advised of the problem which was rectified once the heater element was replaced.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau has launched an investigation into the incident.
Jetstar says enquiries from family and friends can be made on 131 538 (Australia) and updates will be put online at www.Jetstar.com.
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