Qantas are looking seriously at the possibility that a passenger using a laptop on their flight may have been responsible for the recent airborne incident that resulted in the aircraft experiencing a "sudden loss of altitude". Several passengers were seriously injured in the process.

Something I hadn't earlier spotted was reported in one of the above links:

In July, a passenger clicking on a wireless mouse mid-flight was blamed for causing a Qantas jet to be thrown off course, according to the Australian Transport Safety Bureau's monthly report.

This is interesting. Ive observed before that proof of actual in-flight interference from onboard electronics seemed to be lacking - but this seems to be much firmer proof...

It will be interesting to see the outcome of this latest problem - and how airlines around the world react.

As reported by Sydney Morning Herald (and lots of other places).

The general theme is:

- There was a rapid loss of cabin pressure whilst cruising at about 35,000 feet.
- The Pilots executed standard practise - a rapid descent to ~8,000 feet. Oxygen masks for aircrew, cabin attendants and passengers are deployed and in use.
- Once at 8,000 feet and Oxygen no longer required, it was explained that the aircraft was diverting etc etc.

Then we get the whining.
- Oxygen not working! Cant feel it! My response: You didnt pass out, did you? It takes about 5 minutes to drop that much altitute, which is sufficient that you would be all but hypoxic if you werent on supplementary oxygen. Standard safety briefings on aircraft often note that you won't necessarily see the bag inflate.. !
- We weren't told what was going on! My response: Everyone had o2 masks on. Do you expect them to take the mask off to talk to you?

Perhaps passengers need to be better educated as to what the SOP is for an explosive decompression event.

And unless there's a sudden rash of these events, I really hope RyanAir don't get judged for this too harshly. It sounds like they did things by the book.

PS: Why are people feeling free to send panic'd text messages when theyre 'going down' ? If Cellphones interfere with flight equipment (sore point, I know) why do people think that making life _harder_ for the aircrew during an emergency is in any way a good idea???

...Who the hell carries a two-year-old as a pillion passenger on a Moped?!

Honestly!

How is that in any way appropriate?

White Powder Incident at Parliament today apparently..

Not sure the tone of the article is appropriate, however. Clearly shows someone has no clue what it takes to deal with a white powder incident properly.... nor the degree of redundancy available within the Fire Region in terms of providing for cover in the event of a major incident...

Yeah, it was back in May - but I finally got around to finishing this:

If you havn't already, this is definately worth a look. Its a sad story, and yet a happy one at the same time.

First thing I see on the Herald's front page today is this article - and I just feel that the aircrew and cabin crew on this flight deserve major kudos. By all accounts they did a stellar job of looking after their passengers and getting them on the ground safe.

Good on em!!

Spareroom.co.nz has Video.

Abso-frickin-lutely amazing.

As noted in the feedback to that vid, on one hand Darwinism really needs to deal to idiots like that.

On the other, noone wishes the impact on everyone else involved.

Scary, scary stuff. There can't have been much in it!!

Shocking behavior from a Toyota owner...

Fire Brigades becoming concerned - as they should be. All too often it's the local Firefighters (usually Volunteers) who are responding to medical emergencies in a timely fashion because the ambulance services are unable to do so.

Not a good look...

See also gallery.blakjak.net for nicer versions of the stills.