PERTH- Yesterday (September 15, 2024), Qantas (QF) Airbus A330 aircraft tore up and damaged sections of Perth Airport’s (PER) main runway during takeoff on Sunday, prompting urgent repairs.
Video footage captured the moment Flight QF71 to Singapore (SIN) left a trail of damage as it departed at approximately 12:15 PM.
Qantas Plane Damages Perth Runway
The footage shows runway fragments flying into the air behind the accelerating plane. Aero photographer Mitchell, known as YPPH Plane Guy, witnessed and recorded the incident.
He noted that the aircraft had its brakes engaged while increasing power, a procedure not typical for most departures. This likely contributed to the concentrated force applied to that specific area of the runway.
Mitchell pointed out that the affected section was part of recent runway renovations. The damage forced subsequent aircraft to use a shortened takeoff distance.
According to FlightRadar24 data, the flight was operated by Airbus A330-200, registered as VH-EBD. Further, it is a 21-year-old aircraft and was stored at Brisbane (BNE) for more than three years before returning to service last year.
A Boeing 747 freighter even had to divert to Adelaide (ADL) due to insufficient runway length for landing.
Official Remarks
Perth Airport confirmed partial operation of runway three for the remainder of Sunday afternoon and evening, just before the start of a new work week.
A spokesperson for the airport told the West Australian that pavement damage on the Main Runway was identified during a safety inspection following an aircraft’s departure. Maintenance crews immediately began pavement repair work.
The airport spokesperson emphasized that the Cross Runway remained fully operational throughout the incident. Neither Qantas nor Perth Airport officials have determined the exact cause of the runway damage.
Reports indicate that the affected section of tarmac had been recently resurfaced as part of ongoing pavement work scheduled to continue into November.
Seven News reported that the damaged runway was closed to all arriving aircraft. A limited number of departing flights were allowed to use the affected runway.
Despite the runway damage and partial closure, airport officials stated that the incident did not cause significant flight delays or cancellations for passengers on Sunday evening.
Similar Incident
Luxembourg Airport’s sole runway sustained damage, causing flight disruptions on August 28, 2024. A routine morning inspection at 8:00 revealed a small hole in the runway’s asphalt surface near its centerline, Luxembourg Times reported.
Airport CEO Alexander Flassak attributed the damage to normal wear rather than a specific incident.
The discovery prompted an immediate runway closure for repairs. The shutdown affected flight operations, resulting in at least a dozen cancellations and multiple diversions. Landings scheduled from 8:25 onwards were canceled.
Airport officials implemented a partial solution by allowing departures of Luxair’s De Havilland Q400 turboprop aircraft. These planes require shorter takeoff distances, enabling them to use a portion of the damaged runway safely.
Limited flight activity resumed shortly after 13:00, as indicated by the airport’s online schedule. Airport authorities declared the runway fully operational at 14:30, marking the end of the six-and-a-half-hour disruption.
Stay tuned with us. Further, follow us on social media for the latest updates.
Join us on Telegram Group for the Latest Aviation Updates. Subsequently, follow us on Google News.
The post Qantas A330 Plane Damages the Perth Airport Runway During Takeoff appeared first on Aviation A2Z.