BREAKING: A Qantas flight en route from Singapore to Melbourne was urgently diverted to Adelaide due to serious pressurization issues discovered just before landing. This unexpected maneuver left 240 passengers stranded in South Australia early on December 24, 2023.
The flight, designated QF36, had departed from Singapore Changi Airport (SIN) at 7:30 PM on December 23, with an expected arrival at Melbourne Airport (MEL) at 6:15 AM the next morning. Passengers were informed of the pressurization concern and the diversion only 30 minutes before the landing attempt, leading to heightened anxiety among those aboard.
As the aircraft circled above the St. Vincent Gulf, crew members evaluated their options before deciding to divert to Adelaide International Airport (ADL) at approximately 5:00 AM. Fortunately, the landing was executed safely and was not classified as an emergency. There were no immediate reports of injuries among the passengers.
Following the diversion, the passengers were disembarked and promptly placed on replacement flights to Melbourne. Many travelers had been journeying from London to Melbourne to attend the Boxing Day Cricket Test, marking a significant family reunion just in time for Christmas.
However, some passengers expressed frustration over the lack of communication from the flight crew regarding the pressurization issue. Reports indicate that information was sparse during the crisis, with updates coming only shortly before the diversion. Qantas has yet to issue an official statement regarding the incident.
The aircraft remained grounded at Adelaide for over 24 hours before being scheduled to return to Melbourne on December 25 under flight QF6004. It took off at 10:05 AM and landed in Melbourne at 11:40 AM. Currently, the Airbus A330-200 is not scheduled for any further flights, according to Flightradar24.
The aircraft involved, registered as VH-EBA, is a 23-year-old Airbus A330-200 that has been in operation with Qantas since 2002. Known as “Cradle Mountain,” it has a capacity of 271 passengers with 28 seats in business class and 243 in economy. Qantas currently operates 16 Airbus A330-200s, with plans to phase them out starting in 2027 as they transition to the Boeing 787-9.
As travel disruptions continue, officials and passengers alike are left awaiting more information on what caused the pressurization failure and the future of the aircraft involved. Stay tuned for further updates as this story develops.
