1 Dec 2008

Qantas Airbus makes emergency landing

9:01 pm on 1 December 2008

A Qantas flight from Singapore to Brisbane has made an emergency landing after developing what the airline says was a minor technical problem.

The ABC reports the Airbus A330 flight QF52, carrying 247 people, landed in Brisbane at about 10.00am AEST.

Qantas said a problem with the plane's hydraulics was detected but it only affected its steering on the ground.

The plane was towed off the runway.

On Friday, a Qantas Airbus A330 flight to Singapore had to turn back to Perth on Friday after the crew was forced to turn off an engine.

The plane had been serviced several days earlier in Hong Kong.

Fairfax newspapers said the Airbus A330 with 168 passengers, which had been en route to Singapore, returned to Perth when an engine oil warning light flashed in the cockpit.

Aviation sources told Fairfax the engine starter motor sheared off because no oil had been put into the motor after a four-day overhaul was carried out in Hong Kong.

It returned to Perth on one engine, and a replacement plane took off with the passengers almost five hours late.

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority confirmed preliminary reports that the malfunction had originated in the starter motor and that the oil supply was being looked at.

A survey of Qantas maintenance staff this year found concern about safety standards in part because of offshore maintenance.