Update On Sq286

Update On Sq286

Singapore Airlines flight SQ286 has returned to Auckland this afternoon after its tail apparently struck the runway on take-off.

The aircraft –a Boeing 747-400, carrying 368 passengers and 20 crew – bound for Singapore, departed Auckland at 3.28pm this afternoon.

Soon after take-off, it appears the tail strike triggered a fire alarm in the cockpit. The indicator suggested a possible fire in the Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) – a unit located in the tail of the aircraft which powers air conditioning, lighting and other aircraft services when the engines are not operating.

There is no information to suggest that the fire warning light was triggered by an actual fire – it is possible it was triggered by damage to the APU caused by the tailstrike.

The aircraft undertook a ‘heavy’ landing –because of its heavy weight – at Auckland Airport at 3.51pm and was moved to a remote bay where passengers could disembark the aircraft. No passengers or crew were injured in the incident or the landing.

The pilot was under the command of a Captain with over 20 years flying experience, who has been with Singapore Airlines since 2001. Prior to this, he was a Captain with Air Lanka. He was accompanied by two first officers: a Senior First Officer with 12 years experience with Singapore Airlines, and a junior first officer who commenced flying on Boeing 747-400s in August 2002. The Captain was the pilot in command at the time.

Singapore Airlines has been notified by the Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand of an investigation into this incident and will co-operate fully with that investigation.

Singapore Airlines is working now on managing the disruption to customers as a result of this aircraft emergency. Logistics issues are being managed, including the possibility of positioning an aircraft from Sydney to Auckland later tonight to operate this flight. Further information will be provided soon.

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