QantasLink QF1972 from Adelaide to Canberra makes emergency landing with three Liberal politicians on board
A QantasLink flight was forced to make an emergency landing in Adelaide shortly after take-off on Wednesday morning after smoke began to fill the cabin.
Flight QF1972 departed Adelaide Airport at 6.10am bound for Canberra but turned back within minutes after the captain requested a priority landing.
The aircraft landed safely at 6.21am and taxied back to the gate.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.“Our pilots are highly trained to handle situations like this and the aircraft landed safely after the appropriate procedures were conducted,” a Qantas spokesperson told The Nightly.
Firefighters and paramedics met the plane on arrival to check passengers. No injuries have been reported.
Three Liberal politicians were caught up in the frightening incident, including South Australian senator Leah Blyth, who were travelling to Canberra for crucial net-zero policy talks.
Speaking to FiveAA radio after the landing, Ms Blyth said she was “happy to be safe on the ground”.
“It wasn’t scary, it was unusual but obviously we fly a lot as politicians,” she said.
“I’ve never had a cabin fill with smoke quite like that before.
“Hats off to the Qantas staff who were cool calm and collected and got us back on the ground safely.”
Qantas confirmed that engineers will be checking over the aircraft today, and all customers on board have since been put onto alternative flights to Canberra.
