Thursday, October 3, 2024 In an unexpected turn of events, a Qantas flight bound for New Zealand was forced to return to Sydney Airport just an hour into its journey after reports of an unusual smell in the cabin. The incident, which occurred on Wednesday night, led to a priority landing, with one cabin crew member transported to the hospital as a precautionary measure. Flight QF163 , a Boeing 737, departed Sydney at approximately 6:40 pm for its scheduled three-hour flight to Wellington, New Zealand .
However, around an hour into the flight, the crew detected an unusual smell inside the cabin, prompting the captain to make the decision to return to Sydney. By 9:30 pm , the aircraft touched down at Sydney Airport , where it was met by emergency response teams, including multiple fire trucks and ambulances , waiting at the terminal. The aircraft was swiftly surrounded as paramedics evaluated the situation, ultimately transporting a cabin crew member to the hospital for observation.
A Qantas spokesperson confirmed that the landing was classified as priority one , not an emergency landing, emphasizing the airline’s commitment to safety and precaution. The aircraft has since been taken out of service for thorough inspection by engineers. Passengers aboard QF163 recounted how the flight seemed normal until they were informed by the crew that the plane would be returning to Sydney due to an issue in the cabin.
Reports of an unusual smell were cited as the primary reason for the r.