Earlier this week, a Boeing 789 Dreamliner encountered a problem that required a diversion to Honolulu Airport, giving passengers an unplanned stopover in Hawaii. Qantas Flight 76 departed from Vancouver and was headed nonstop to Sydney. The plane was at 33,000 feet when an issue occurred.
At that time, it was more than 1,500 nautical miles (1,800 miles) southwest of Honolulu. The plane was still approximately 3,000 miles from its destination in Australia, when a decision was made to turn back to Hawaii, diverting to Honolulu. It isn’t clear why the flight didn’t divert elsewhere, such as Nadi. In October, an Air New Zealand Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner flying between JFK and Auckland diverted to Nadi.
The initial report said, “The crew advised ATC they did have a minor technical problem.” The exact nature of the problem and further details have not yet been detailed. The plane landed safely at Honolulu more than three hours after deciding to divert.
It was noted that “the crew advised the tower they would have their flaps fully down after landing due to a technical fault.”
Flaps are movable panels on the wings that can be extended to increase the lift on takeoff or the drag on landing. When landing, flaps are typically at a specific position recommended by the aircraft manufacturer, which might not be fully extended to provide adequate lift and drag for safe landing speed and smooth touchdown.
It isn’t clear whether there was a problem with the flap control system or something else. It may have been that the safest or only possible option was to land with the flaps fully down.
While pilots here will know more (your comments are invited!), flaps fully extended at landing may create a higher-than-normal rate of descent and a slower approach speed to maintain control. Air traffic control may be notified of such a condition, as was the case here, and emergency services can sometimes be on standby, which was not the case.
It was also reported that there may have been “some electrical/generator issue.”
Passengers remained for a reported 9 hours at HNL before the flight was ultimately canceled. The aircraft remained on the ground at HNL for two days following the diversion and was then used for a continuing Qantas flight to Sydney.
A reliable source, the Aviation Herald, first reported this incident.
Private pilot here…we were told that taxiing in with flaps fully extended is a signal requesting armed intervention. The Qantas crew may have informed the tower about their flaps to prevent an unnecessary response.
But what I was told could be old wives’ tale!
And of the Passengers and their 57 Hour+ Odyssey and accommodations and Expenses? This a very rare occurrence for Qantas!
Qantas has been one of the safest airlines ever since they began service. I know that Dreamliners have had some issue s, especially with the current congressional hearings involving former employees regarding safety.