Computer fault may have caused Qantas jet to plunge 8,000ft, say investigators

By Richard Shears for MailOnline
Updated: 18:22 EDT, 8 October 2008

A computer glitch rather than turbulence may have caused a Qantas jet to plunge 8,000ft, injuring at least 30 passengers, investigators have said.

They said they had found an ‘irregularity’ in the onboard computer equipment but would give no details.

The suggestion came as some of the 303 passengers on the Airbus A330-300 Singapore to Perth flight told of the ordeal that ended with an emergency landing in the Australian desert.

A passenger is stretchered from a Royal Flying Doctor Service plane to a waiting ambulance at Jandakot Airport after the terrifying incident

Twelve passengers were seriously hurt, suffering spinal injuries, broken noses and head trauma when they were smashed against the ceiling of the A330-300 as it suddenly plunged a reported 6,5000ft.

The director of Australia's Transport Safety Bureau, Julian Walsh, said that the pilots received 'electronic centralised aircraft monitoring messages in the cockpit relating to some irregularity with the aircraft's elevator control system.'

'The aircraft departed normal flight and climbed 300 feet,' said Julian Walsh, director of aviation safety with the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB).

'The aircraft did that of its own accord and then, whilst the crew were doing the normal actions in response to that not normal situation, the aircraft then pitched down suddenly and quite rapidly,' he said.

Among the British passengers on board as the aircraft flew from Singapore to Perth - before making an emergency landing at Exmouth, 1000 miles north of Perth - were Henry and Doreen Bishop of Oxford.

They described the incident as one of the worst experiences of their lives.

'People were screaming, but they cut off any panic that might have started,' said Mr Bishop, in a reference to the pilot telling everyone to sit down and buckle up.

'I put it down to life,' said Mr Bishop. 'The Titanic hit an iceberg, we hit an air pocket.'

Passengers disembark safely from the Qantas jet. Investigators revealed that the plane may have suffered a technical glitch before it plummeted nose-first

One passenger, Mr Jim Ford, said he thought he was about to die as he watched people being thrown around the cabin.

'It was horrendous, absolutely gruesome, terrible, the worst experience of my life,' he said.

Passenger Ben Cave said that for a few seconds he had feared for his life and had seen 'a bit of a flash before me.'

A passenger greets a family member after landing

He said the aircraft had a 'major fall' and another fall shortly after.

'I hit the ceiling but I was OK. I only got a few bruises and  strains. I just remember seeing that the plane was a mess.'

Passengers told of 'mayhem' on board when the plane dropped.

'Children and babies who weren't buckled in hit the ceiling,' said one man.

'The poor little kid next to us, we watched him hit the ceiling and sit there for about three seconds until his dad dragged him back into his seat,' said passenger Mark Bell.

Another passenger, Mike Maxwell said some people had left their seats and were waiting to use the toilets 'so they were the ones who really suffered worse I suppose, and people with young children and so on, babies hitting the ceiling and come down again.'

West Australian Police Commissioner Karl O'Callaghan confirmed today that investigations were continuing into the possibility of 'some sort of systems failure'.

'We're not sure yet. We're still waiting for further information,' he said.