QantasLink flight turns back twice after bird strike and technical fault

People reported that a QantasLink Dash 8 departing Adelaide around 8:00 a.m. for Port Lincoln turned back twice after striking a bird and later experiencing a technical issue.

After crossing Spencer Gulf the aircraft struck a bird and returned to the tarmac almost one hour later, 9News reported. Passenger Barry Stribling told 7News, "People just couldn’t believe it." The plane remained on the ground for about an hour while engineers checked it and was given the all-clear, but then a warning light was displayed and 7News and The Advertiser said a generator was out, prompting a second return. Stribling told 9News, "It reminded me of a Seinfeld episode," and 9News said the pilot apologized to passengers as they disembarked. Passenger Imogen Evans told 7News she was due to emcee a wedding and was "devastated to miss the ceremony."

Passengers switched to a different aircraft and took off at around 2:00 p.m. after a six-hour delay, 9News reported, and landed in Port Lincoln at 2:50 p.m., The Advertiser said. Qantas said the technical issue was unrelated to the bird strike and said, "We appreciate the patience and understanding from our customers and apologize for the delay," in a statement obtained by 7News.

Key Topics

World, Qantaslink, Adelaide, Port Lincoln, Spencer Gulf, Bird Strike