Editing Qantas (section)

== Accidents and incidents ==
{{Main|List of Qantas fatal accidents}}

It is often claimed that Qantas has never had an aircraft crash. While it is true that the company has neither lost a [[Jet aircraft|jet airliner]] nor had any jet fatalities, it had eight fatal accidents and an aircraft shot down between 1927 and 1945, with the loss of 63&nbsp;people. Half of these accidents and the shoot-down occurred during World War&nbsp;II, when the Qantas aircraft were operating on behalf of Allied military forces. Post-war, it lost another four aircraft (one was owned by BOAC and operated by Qantas in a pooling arrangement) with a total of 21 people killed. The last fatal accidents suffered by Qantas were in 1951, with three fatal crashes in five months.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Kamenev|first=Marina|title=Qantas: Airline Safety's Golden Child No More?|date=24 November 2010|magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|url=http://content.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2032492,00.html|access-date=24 May 2015|archive-date=24 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150524233906/http://content.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2032492,00.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|last=Palmer|first=Brian|title=Is Qantas The World's Safest Airline?|date=1 November 2011|magazine=[[Slate (magazine)|Slate]]|url=http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/explainer/2011/11/airline_safety_does_qantas_airlines_crash_free_record_make_it_th.html|access-date=24 May 2015|archive-date=24 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150524232929/http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/explainer/2011/11/airline_safety_does_qantas_airlines_crash_free_record_make_it_th.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Qantas' safety record allows the airline to be officially known as the world's safest airline for seven years in a row from 2012 until 2019<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.airlineratings.com/news/worlds-safest-airlines-named-for-2019/|title=World's Safest Airlines named for 2019|last=Thomas|first=Geoffrey|date=3 January 2019|website=Airline Ratings|language=en-AU|access-date=15 September 2019|archive-date=13 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191013194337/https://www.airlineratings.com/news/worlds-safest-airlines-named-for-2019/|url-status=live}}</ref> and again in 2021<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.traveller.com.au/worlds-safest-and-least-safe-airlines-for-2021-named-h1t68z|title=World's safest, and least safe, airlines for 2021 named|date=5 January 2021|website=Traveller.com.au|language=en-AU|access-date=20 June 2021|archive-date=24 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624201847/https://www.traveller.com.au/worlds-safest-and-least-safe-airlines-for-2021-named-h1t68z|url-status=live}}</ref> and 2023.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Green|first=Eli|title=Qantas regains top spot for safest airline in 2023|url=https://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-updates/health-safety/qantas-regains-top-spot-for-safest-airline-in-2023/news-story/cdb6c1d23d13cfac988c681f59f11729}}</ref>

Since the end of World War&nbsp;II, the following accidents and incidents have occurred:
* On 23 March 1946, an [[Avro Lancastrian]] registered G-AGLX disappeared while flying over the Indian Ocean. The BOAC-owned aircraft was being operated by Qantas on the Karachi—Sydney part of the two airlines' joint service from London to Sydney. It disappeared with seven passengers and crew on board between [[Colombo]], Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), and the [[Cocos (Keeling) Islands]], approximately three hours before it was due to arrive at the Cocos islands.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19460323-0|title=Avro 691 Lancastrian 1 G-AGLX Indian Ocean|website=[[Aviation Safety Network]]|publisher=[[Flight Safety Foundation]]|access-date=17 May 2018|archive-date=5 August 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110805221409/http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19460323-0|url-status=live}}</ref>
* On 7 April 1949, an Avro Lancastrian registered VH-EAS swung on landing at [[Dubbo]], New South Wales during a training flight, causing the gear to collapse. The aircraft was destroyed by fire, but the crew evacuated safely.<ref>{{cite web|title=Accident Description|publisher=Aviation Safety Network|url=http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19490407-0|access-date=14 February 2007|archive-date=29 September 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929171836/http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19490407-0|url-status=live}}</ref>
* On 16 July 1951, a [[de Havilland Australia DHA-3 Drover]] registered VH-EBQ [[1951 Qantas DHA-3 Drover crash|crashed]] off the coast of New Guinea (in the Huon Gulf near the mouth of the Markham River) after the centre engine's propeller failed. The pilot and the six passengers on board were killed.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article2833330|title=Newspaper Article|publisher=Trove.nla.gov.au|date=17 July 1951|access-date=8 July 2011|archive-date=28 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200728103515/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/2833330|url-status=live}}</ref>
* On 21 September 1951, a [[de Havilland Dragon|de Havilland DH.84 Dragon]] registered VH-AXL, crashed in mountainous country southeast of Arona in the [[New Guinea Highlands|central highlands of New Guinea]], no passengers were on board, the pilot was killed.<ref>{{cite news|title=Pilot killed in Qantas crash|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/2838302|access-date=11 February 2018|work=Canberra Times|page=4|archive-date=11 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180211190116/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/2838302|url-status=live}}</ref>
* On 13 December 1951, a de Havilland DH.84 Dragon registered VH-URV crashed in mountainous country near [[Mount Hagen]], central highlands of New Guinea. The pilot and the two passengers were killed. This is the last fatal accident suffered by Qantas.<ref>{{cite news|title=Air crash in New Guinea|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/42724472|access-date=11 February 2018|work=Cairns Post|date=15 December 1951|page=5|archive-date=11 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180211190125/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/42724472|url-status=live}}</ref>
* On 24 August 1960, a [[Lockheed L-1049 Super Constellation]] registered VH-EAC crashed on take-off at [[Mauritius]] en route to the [[Cocos Islands]], Australia. The take-off was aborted following an engine failure, the aircraft ran off the runway, and was destroyed by fire. There were no fatalities.<ref>{{cite web|title=Misadventure at Mauritius|author=Job, Macarthur|publisher=Flight Safety Australia (January–February 2000)|url=http://www.casa.gov.au/fsa/2000/jan/page49.pdf|date=23 September 1999|access-date=17 December 2006|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070203225636/http://www.casa.gov.au/fsa/2000/jan/page49.pdf|archive-date=3 February 2007}}</ref>
* On 1 June 1989, Qantas Flight 5, a Boeing 747-200 operating from Sydney to Singapore was cruising at 32,000&nbsp;ft about 900&nbsp;km south-east of Derby when it sharply climbed 1500&nbsp;ft.  The pilots disengaged the auto-pilot and the aircraft sharply descended 1500&nbsp;ft.  Unrestrained passengers hit the cabin's internal ceiling panels, leaving holes.  The aircraft diverted to Darwin, where 47 passengers were taken to hospital with cuts, bruises, chest pains, concussion, fractured ribs and shock.  Three passengers suffered spinal injuries.<ref>{{cite news|last=Cooke|first=Karen|date=3 June 1989|title='The top of the aeroplane looked like Swiss cheese'|work=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]]|via=Dow Jones Factiva}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author=<!--not stated-->|date=2 June 1989|title=46 Hurt as Jet Nose-Dives on Way to Singapore|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-06-02-mn-1190-story.html|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=12 March 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240311135637/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-06-02-mn-1190-story.html|archive-date=11 March 2024|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author=<!--not stated-->|date=2 June 1989|title=47 injured as Qantas jumbo takes a nose-dive|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Nnc1AAAAIBAJ&dq=47+injured+as+qantas&pg=PA3|work=[[The Age]]|via=Google Books|access-date=12 March 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author=<!--not stated-->|date=2 June 1989|title=People tossed as 747 soars, then plunges|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dq1jAAAAIBAJ&dq=People+tossed+as+747+soars&pg=PA2|work=[[The Register-Guard|Eugene Register-Guard]]|via=Google Books|access-date=12 March 2024}}</ref>
* On 23 September 1999, [[Qantas Flight 1]], a Boeing 747–400 registered VH-OJH, overran the runway while landing at [[Don Mueang International Airport|Bangkok]], Thailand, during a heavy thunderstorm. The aircraft came to a stop on a golf course, but without fatalities. The [[Australian Transport Safety Bureau]] criticised numerous inadequacies in Qantas' operational and training processes.<ref>{{ATSBLink | type =A | year =1999 | occno =199904538 | title =Boeing Co 747-438, VH-OJH | accessdate =23 July 2007}}
</ref>
* On 25 July 2008, [[Qantas Flight 30]], a Boeing 747–400 registered VH-OJK, suffered a ruptured fuselage and decompression as a result of an oxygen tank explosion over the [[South China Sea]]. En route from [[Hong Kong International Airport]] to [[Melbourne Airport]], the aircraft made an emergency landing in the Philippines with no injuries.<ref>{{cite press release|title=Qantas Boeing 747–400 depressurisation and diversion to Manila on 25 July 2008|publisher=[[Australian Transport Safety Bureau]]|date=28 July 2008|url=http://www.atsb.gov.au/newsroom/2008/release/2008_24.aspx|access-date=28 July 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080803154036/http://www.atsb.gov.au/newsroom/2008/release/2008_24.aspx|archive-date=3 August 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* On 7 October 2008, an Airbus A330-300 registered VH-QPA, travelling from [[Singapore Changi Airport]] to [[Perth Airport|Perth]], Western Australia as [[Qantas Flight 72]], suffered a rapid loss of altitude in two sudden uncommanded pitch down manoeuvres causing serious injuries while {{convert|80|nmi|km mi}} from [[RAAF Learmonth|Learmonth]]. The aircraft safely landed in Learmonth, with 14 people requiring transportation by [[air ambulance]] to Perth. Another 30 people also required hospital treatment, while an additional 30 people had injuries not requiring hospital treatment.<ref name="ATSB_MR_20081008">{{cite press release|title=2008/40&nbsp;– Qantas Airbus Incident Media Conference|publisher=[[Australian Transport Safety Bureau]]|date=8 October 2008|url=http://www.atsb.gov.au/newsroom/2008/release/2008_40.aspx|access-date=8 October 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190617090041/http://www.atsb.gov.au/newsroom/2008/release/2008_40.aspx|archive-date=17 June 2019|url-status=dead}}</ref> Initial investigations identified an [[inertial reference system]] fault in the Number-1 Air Data Inertial Reference Unit as the likely origin of the event. On receiving false indication of a very high angle of attack, the flight control systems commanded a pitch down movement, reaching a maximum of 8.5 degrees pitch down.<ref name="ATSB_MR_20081014">{{cite press release|title=2008/43&nbsp;– Qantas Airbus A330 accident Media Conference|publisher=[[Australian Transport Safety Bureau]]|date=14 October 2008|url=http://www.atsb.gov.au/newsroom/2008/release/2008_43.aspx|access-date=14 October 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190617090043/http://www.atsb.gov.au/newsroom/2008/release/2008_43.aspx|archive-date=17 June 2019|url-status=dead}}</ref> The incident featured in a 7 News documentary.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20190605054946/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0cS1SMptlnQ 7 News documentary]</ref>
* On 4 November 2010, [[Qantas Flight 32]], an Airbus A380 registered VH-OQA, fitted with four [[Rolls-Royce Trent 900|Rolls-Royce Trent 972]] engines, suffered an uncontained turbine disc failure of its left inboard engine shortly after taking off from Singapore Changi Airport en route to Sydney. The aircraft returned to Singapore and landed safely. None of the 440 passengers or 29 crew on board were injured.<ref name="Suit">{{cite news|last=Carson|first=Vanda|date=20 June 2013|title=Qantas attendants sue over explosion|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/qantas-attendants-sue-over-explosion/story-fni0cx12-1226666535421?nk=dc9e1caae518f53e8c49270990cf91ce|location=Sydney|access-date=9 February 2015|archive-date=28 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200728103516/https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/qantas-attendants-sue-over-explosion/news-story/22eddeaad77156ff6746768f79a29b7a?nk=bf83fdd580c215e952652cbd2aef86f2-1595932516|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="QF32">{{cite web|title=Qantas grounds A380s after engine failure|publisher=[[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]]|date=4 November 2010|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2010-11-04/qantas-grounds-a380s-after-engine-failure/2324262|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130703015325/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2010-11-04/qantas-grounds-a380s-after-engine-failure/2324262|archive-date=3 July 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Qantas jet engine fails: witnesses tell of hearing explosion|work=The Age|location=Melbourne|date=4 November 2010|url=http://www.theage.com.au/travel/travel-news/qantas-jet-engine-fails-witnesses-tell-of-hearing-explosion-20101104-17f49.html?autostart=1|access-date=4 November 2010|last=O'Sullivan|first=Matt|archive-date=7 November 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101107144356/http://www.theage.com.au/travel/travel-news/qantas-jet-engine-fails-witnesses-tell-of-hearing-explosion-20101104-17f49.html?autostart=1}}</ref>

===Extortion attempts===
{{Main|1971 Qantas bomb hoax}}

On 26 May 1971 Qantas received a call from a "Mr.&nbsp;Brown" claiming that there was a bomb planted on a Hong Kong-bound jet and demanding $500,000 in unmarked $20&nbsp;notes. The caller and threat were taken seriously when he directed police to an airport locker where a functional bomb was found. Arrangements were made to pick up the money in front of the head office of the airline in the heart of the Sydney business district. Qantas paid the money and it was collected, after which Mr.&nbsp;Brown called again, advising the "bomb on the plane" story was a hoax. The initial pursuit of the perpetrator was bungled by the [[New South Wales Police Force]] which, despite having been advised of the matter from the time of the first call, failed to establish adequate surveillance of the pick-up of the money. Directed not to use their radios (for fear of being "overheard"), the police were unable to communicate adequately.<ref>{{cite book|last=Young|first=Barry|title=The Qantas Extortion Case|publisher=Qantas Public Affairs Department|location=Sydney}}</ref>

Tipped off by a still-unidentified informer, the police arrested an Englishman, Peter Macari,<ref>{{cite news|last=Macey|first=Richard|title='Mr Brown' and riddle of the man who just vanished|work=Sydney Morning Herald|date=25 May 2002|url=http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2002/05/24/1022038477530.html|access-date=17 December 2006|archive-date=16 October 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071016212019/http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2002/05/24/1022038477530.html|url-status=live}}</ref> finding more than $138,000 hidden in an [[Annandale, New South Wales|Annandale]] property. Convicted and sentenced to 15&nbsp;years in prison, Macari served nine years before being deported to Britain. More than $224,000 remains unaccounted for. The 1986 telemovie ''[[Call Me Mr. Brown]]'', directed by [[Scott Hicks (director)|Scott Hicks]] and produced by Terry Jennings, relates to this incident.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ozmovies.com.au/movie/call-me-mr.-brown|title=Call Me Mr. Brown (1986)|date=January 1986|access-date=9 June 2019|archive-date=9 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190609152034/https://www.ozmovies.com.au/movie/call-me-mr.-brown|url-status=live}} Produced by The Kino Film Co. Ltd., and only released on VHS by The Home Cimema Group (find it on Youtube)</ref> On 4 July 1997 a [[Copycat crimes|copycat]] extortion attempt was thwarted by police and Qantas security staff.<ref>{{Cite conference|author=Jennifer Muldoon|author2=Melissa Jones|title=Extortion Attempt Qantas Airways|conference=Crime Against Business, convened by the [[Australian Institute of Criminology]], Melbourne, 18–19 June 1998|name-list-style=amp|url=http://www.aic.gov.au/media_library/conferences/cab/muldoonjones.pdf|access-date=22 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140212104756/http://www.aic.gov.au/media_library/conferences/cab/muldoonjones.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=12 February 2014}}</ref>