OIL LEAK GROUNDS PERTH BOUND QANTAS FLIGHT QF655

A Qantas aircraft that had just arrived in Sydney from Perth has been taken out of service tonight after an apparent oil related technical issue was identified before it was due to return to Western Australia.

Passengers had already boarded QF655 from Sydney to Perth when the issue prevented the aircraft from departing.

WA in Focus, travelling on the affected service, observed a visible pool of oily fluid beneath the aircraft shortly after it arrived in Sydney.

The aircraft had earlier operated QF648 from Perth to Sydney before being scheduled to turn around and operate QF655 back to Perth.

Passengers were later advised of an oil related technical issue and the original aircraft has now been grounded for the service.

Qantas is transferring passengers to a replacement aircraft to continue the journey to Perth.

The flight was originally due to depart Sydney at approximately 7:45pm, before passengers were advised it had been delayed until 9:45pm.

THE SEQUENCE TONIGHT

• •Aircraft arrives in Sydney from Perth
• •Visible oily fluid observed beneath the aircraft
• •Passengers board QF655 for Perth
• •Technical issue prevents departure
• •Original aircraft removed from the service
• •Passengers transferred to another aircraft

There is no suggestion the aircraft departed with the fault or that passengers were placed at risk. The precise cause and extent of the technical issue have not yet been confirmed.

WA in Focus is reporting firsthand from Sydney Airport and will provide further updates as the situation develops.

• •Sydney Airport
• •QF655 Sydney → Perth
• •Passengers transferred to replacement aircraft

UPDATE: TWO PLANES, TWO FAULTS, WHAT IS HAPPENING AT QANTAS?

Passengers on tonight’s Qantas flight from Sydney to Perth have been hit by a second technical problem after the replacement aircraft assigned to QF655 also required engineering repairs.

The original aircraft was taken out of service earlier tonight following an apparent oil related issue after passengers had already boarded.

Passengers were then transferred to another aircraft to continue the journey to Perth.

But boarding of the replacement plane was subsequently delayed after a separate fault involving the aircraft’s galley drainage system was identified.

Passengers were told engineers needed access to the rear of the galleys and had to remove substantial components to reach and repair the problem.

The Sydney to Perth service have now encountered two separate aircraft and two separate technical problems in the same night.

There is currently no evidence the two faults are connected, nor does tonight’s incident alone establish a broader safety problem within Qantas.

But after hours of disruption and two aircraft requiring engineering attention, passengers seem concerned and are asking is this flight safe?

After several hours of disruption, travellers are now finally preparing to depart for WA.