Why were these Qantas passengers left deserted on the tarmac for five hours?

When oxygen masks suddenly burst out from the roof of a plane, it’s often a signal to prepare for emergencies.

But for the 120 or so passengers onboard a Qantas flight on the night of August 6, nothing had dropped from the ceiling, and yet they still found themselves stuck in an extremely dire situation.


Flight QF596 travelling from Sydney, had landed at the Gold Coast Airport just after 8:30 pm. While the 120 or so passengers were getting ready to disembark, an unforeseen turn of events prevented them from doing so.

According to reports, the Boeing 737 they were on had encountered an issue that left the plane grounded on the tarmac for five hours. This left passengers stranded with no food or water.

'Our Sydney to Gold Coast flight on Monday night was towed from the runway to the gate because of an issue with the aircraft's nose wheel steering,' a Qantas representative said.


shutterstock_1787870120.jpg
Qantas is under scrutiny from the public once more after another incident has come to light. Image Credit: Shutterstock.


So what were the consequences of this issue? Nine flights that were scheduled to depart from the Gold Coast airport were impacted, seven of which were rerouted to Brisbane, two flights landed in Coolangatta later in the evening, and two flights departing from the Gold Coast were cancelled.

While those 120 passengers said they were forced to spend the next five hours sitting inside the plane, a Qantas spokesperson said the plane was only delayed for three hours.


Firefighters, specialist engineers and even tow trucks were called in to try and assess the issue, but it wasn't until later in the evening that the plane was finally towed away.

Unsurprisingly, those on the plane were extremely upset with the level of service they received.

One passenger shared, 'I am so disappointed in Qantas services...We’ve been on a plane for five hours.'

While another claimed that the Qantas staff were handing out red and white wine to the passengers because they had ‘run out of water.’

Qantas was quick to apologise for the situation and offered a statement taking full responsibility.

'We apologise for the inconvenience and would like to thank our customers for their patience while we organised for the aircraft to be manually towed,' said a spokesperson for the airline.

While this shocking incident may seem like a one-time occurrence, in the past year, Qantas has had its fair share of shocking headlines.

This story also comes hot on the heels of Alan Joyce, the airline’s CEO, resigning after months of controversy and complaints from customers. You can read more about this story here.


Airport and airline procedures for dealing with grounded planes are intricate, sophisticated, and not always the most passenger-friendly.

For an aircraft to be considered officially grounded, it needs to have an issue that can't be swiftly mended.

The worst part is that once the aircraft is grounded, leaving the plane immediately isn't always feasible for safety reasons. There may be complications that could still pose potential dangers.

While decidedly inconvenient and certainly not an advertised part of the travel experience, these procedures serve to ensure passenger safety remains paramount.

Key Takeaways
  • Flight QF596 encountered an issue with its hydraulic system that affected its steering after landing.
  • As a consequence of the system malfunction, 120 passengers were forced to stay in the plane, which was left grounded on the tarmac for about five hours. Multiple other Qantas flights were also cancelled or diverted as a result.
  • Despite efforts from firefighters, specialist engineers and tow trucks, the issue was not resolved until much later in the evening.
  • Following the incident, Qantas issued an apology and took full responsibility for the inconvenience, but the facilitation of customer service during the issue was heavily criticised by passengers on board.

In light of this unfortunate incident, we urge you to be vigilant of airline and airport customer service standards, especially during the upcoming holiday season.

How do you think Qantas handled this incident? Let us know in the comments below.
 
Sponsored
When oxygen masks suddenly burst out from the roof of a plane, it’s often a signal to prepare for emergencies.

But for the 120 or so passengers onboard a Qantas flight on the night of August 6, nothing had dropped from the ceiling, and yet they still found themselves stuck in an extremely dire situation.


Flight QF596 travelling from Sydney, had landed at the Gold Coast Airport just after 8:30 pm. While the 120 or so passengers were getting ready to disembark, an unforeseen turn of events prevented them from doing so.

According to reports, the Boeing 737 they were on had encountered an issue that left the plane grounded on the tarmac for five hours. This left passengers stranded with no food or water.

'Our Sydney to Gold Coast flight on Monday night was towed from the runway to the gate because of an issue with the aircraft's nose wheel steering,' a Qantas representative said.


View attachment 30358
Qantas is under scrutiny from the public once more after another incident has come to light. Image Credit: Shutterstock.


So what were the consequences of this issue? Nine flights that were scheduled to depart from the Gold Coast airport were impacted, seven of which were rerouted to Brisbane, two flights landed in Coolangatta later in the evening, and two flights departing from the Gold Coast were cancelled.

While those 120 passengers said they were forced to spend the next five hours sitting inside the plane, a Qantas spokesperson said the plane was only delayed for three hours.


Firefighters, specialist engineers and even tow trucks were called in to try and assess the issue, but it wasn't until later in the evening that the plane was finally towed away.

Unsurprisingly, those on the plane were extremely upset with the level of service they received.

One passenger shared, 'I am so disappointed in Qantas services...We’ve been on a plane for five hours.'

While another claimed that the Qantas staff were handing out red and white wine to the passengers because they had ‘run out of water.’

Qantas was quick to apologise for the situation and offered a statement taking full responsibility.

'We apologise for the inconvenience and would like to thank our customers for their patience while we organised for the aircraft to be manually towed,' said a spokesperson for the airline.

While this shocking incident may seem like a one-time occurrence, in the past year, Qantas has had its fair share of shocking headlines.

This story also comes hot on the heels of Alan Joyce, the airline’s CEO, resigning after months of controversy and complaints from customers. You can read more about this story here.


Airport and airline procedures for dealing with grounded planes are intricate, sophisticated, and not always the most passenger-friendly.

For an aircraft to be considered officially grounded, it needs to have an issue that can't be swiftly mended.

The worst part is that once the aircraft is grounded, leaving the plane immediately isn't always feasible for safety reasons. There may be complications that could still pose potential dangers.

While decidedly inconvenient and certainly not an advertised part of the travel experience, these procedures serve to ensure passenger safety remains paramount.

Key Takeaways

  • Flight QF596 encountered an issue with its hydraulic system that affected its steering after landing.
  • As a consequence of the system malfunction, 120 passengers were forced to stay in the plane, which was left grounded on the tarmac for about five hours. Multiple other Qantas flights were also cancelled or diverted as a result.
  • Despite efforts from firefighters, specialist engineers and tow trucks, the issue was not resolved until much later in the evening.
  • Following the incident, Qantas issued an apology and took full responsibility for the inconvenience, but the facilitation of customer service during the issue was heavily criticised by passengers on board.

In light of this unfortunate incident, we urge you to be vigilant of airline and airport customer service standards, especially during the upcoming holiday season.

How do you think Qantas handled this incident? Let us know in the comments below.
 
Sometimes you are damned if you do and damned if you don't. In this case, QANTAS likely didn't have Licensed Engineers on location at Gold Coast, the airport being a regional airport, not a primary one. I guess engineers had to be driven down from Brisbane which takes time. As the aircraft was disabled, passengers couldn't disembark and wander over the tarmac for safety reasons. Mechanical issues happen,and then inevitably there is a flow-on effect with the following flights. Unfortunately, QANTAS is under the media spotlight and such an unserviceability gets unnecessary media attention. - retired pilot.
 
Surely they could have driven a bus out there so they could disembark safely and be taken to the terminal. Especially with no water left on board. I for one could not go five hours without water being a migraine sufferer and wine is not an option.
 
Sometimes you are damned if you do and damned if you don't. In this case, QANTAS likely didn't have Licensed Engineers on location at Gold Coast, the airport being a regional airport, not a primary one. I guess engineers had to be driven down from Brisbane which takes time. As the aircraft was disabled, passengers couldn't disembark and wander over the tarmac for safety reasons. Mechanical issues happen,and then inevitably there is a flow-on effect with the following flights. Unfortunately, QANTAS is under the media spotlight and such an unserviceability gets unnecessary media attention. - retired pilot.
I don’t call unnecessary media attention unnecessary. Qantas is a shambles, outsourced mechanics are a waste of money. Joyce was all about Money Saving., he couldn’t care two hoots, or maybe two leprechauns about human beings! Good riddance to him, the most hated man in Australia.
 
When oxygen masks suddenly burst out from the roof of a plane, it’s often a signal to prepare for emergencies.

But for the 120 or so passengers onboard a Qantas flight on the night of August 6, nothing had dropped from the ceiling, and yet they still found themselves stuck in an extremely dire situation.


Flight QF596 travelling from Sydney, had landed at the Gold Coast Airport just after 8:30 pm. While the 120 or so passengers were getting ready to disembark, an unforeseen turn of events prevented them from doing so.

According to reports, the Boeing 737 they were on had encountered an issue that left the plane grounded on the tarmac for five hours. This left passengers stranded with no food or water.

'Our Sydney to Gold Coast flight on Monday night was towed from the runway to the gate because of an issue with the aircraft's nose wheel steering,' a Qantas representative said.


View attachment 30358
Qantas is under scrutiny from the public once more after another incident has come to light. Image Credit: Shutterstock.


So what were the consequences of this issue? Nine flights that were scheduled to depart from the Gold Coast airport were impacted, seven of which were rerouted to Brisbane, two flights landed in Coolangatta later in the evening, and two flights departing from the Gold Coast were cancelled.

While those 120 passengers said they were forced to spend the next five hours sitting inside the plane, a Qantas spokesperson said the plane was only delayed for three hours.


Firefighters, specialist engineers and even tow trucks were called in to try and assess the issue, but it wasn't until later in the evening that the plane was finally towed away.

Unsurprisingly, those on the plane were extremely upset with the level of service they received.

One passenger shared, 'I am so disappointed in Qantas services...We’ve been on a plane for five hours.'

While another claimed that the Qantas staff were handing out red and white wine to the passengers because they had ‘run out of water.’

Qantas was quick to apologise for the situation and offered a statement taking full responsibility.

'We apologise for the inconvenience and would like to thank our customers for their patience while we organised for the aircraft to be manually towed,' said a spokesperson for the airline.

While this shocking incident may seem like a one-time occurrence, in the past year, Qantas has had its fair share of shocking headlines.

This story also comes hot on the heels of Alan Joyce, the airline’s CEO, resigning after months of controversy and complaints from customers. You can read more about this story here.


Airport and airline procedures for dealing with grounded planes are intricate, sophisticated, and not always the most passenger-friendly.

For an aircraft to be considered officially grounded, it needs to have an issue that can't be swiftly mended.

The worst part is that once the aircraft is grounded, leaving the plane immediately isn't always feasible for safety reasons. There may be complications that could still pose potential dangers.

While decidedly inconvenient and certainly not an advertised part of the travel experience, these procedures serve to ensure passenger safety remains paramount.

Key Takeaways

  • Flight QF596 encountered an issue with its hydraulic system that affected its steering after landing.
  • As a consequence of the system malfunction, 120 passengers were forced to stay in the plane, which was left grounded on the tarmac for about five hours. Multiple other Qantas flights were also cancelled or diverted as a result.
  • Despite efforts from firefighters, specialist engineers and tow trucks, the issue was not resolved until much later in the evening.
  • Following the incident, Qantas issued an apology and took full responsibility for the inconvenience, but the facilitation of customer service during the issue was heavily criticised by passengers on board.

In light of this unfortunate incident, we urge you to be vigilant of airline and airport customer service standards, especially during the upcoming holiday season.

How do you think Qantas handled this incident? Let us know in the comments below.
joyce was still at the helm. what did he do about it?
 
  • Like
Reactions: Wogarl@1
When oxygen masks suddenly burst out from the roof of a plane, it’s often a signal to prepare for emergencies.

But for the 120 or so passengers onboard a Qantas flight on the night of August 6, nothing had dropped from the ceiling, and yet they still found themselves stuck in an extremely dire situation.


Flight QF596 travelling from Sydney, had landed at the Gold Coast Airport just after 8:30 pm. While the 120 or so passengers were getting ready to disembark, an unforeseen turn of events prevented them from doing so.

According to reports, the Boeing 737 they were on had encountered an issue that left the plane grounded on the tarmac for five hours. This left passengers stranded with no food or water.

'Our Sydney to Gold Coast flight on Monday night was towed from the runway to the gate because of an issue with the aircraft's nose wheel steering,' a Qantas representative said.


View attachment 30358
Qantas is under scrutiny from the public once more after another incident has come to light. Image Credit: Shutterstock.


So what were the consequences of this issue? Nine flights that were scheduled to depart from the Gold Coast airport were impacted, seven of which were rerouted to Brisbane, two flights landed in Coolangatta later in the evening, and two flights departing from the Gold Coast were cancelled.

While those 120 passengers said they were forced to spend the next five hours sitting inside the plane, a Qantas spokesperson said the plane was only delayed for three hours.


Firefighters, specialist engineers and even tow trucks were called in to try and assess the issue, but it wasn't until later in the evening that the plane was finally towed away.

Unsurprisingly, those on the plane were extremely upset with the level of service they received.

One passenger shared, 'I am so disappointed in Qantas services...We’ve been on a plane for five hours.'

While another claimed that the Qantas staff were handing out red and white wine to the passengers because they had ‘run out of water.’

Qantas was quick to apologise for the situation and offered a statement taking full responsibility.

'We apologise for the inconvenience and would like to thank our customers for their patience while we organised for the aircraft to be manually towed,' said a spokesperson for the airline.

While this shocking incident may seem like a one-time occurrence, in the past year, Qantas has had its fair share of shocking headlines.

This story also comes hot on the heels of Alan Joyce, the airline’s CEO, resigning after months of controversy and complaints from customers. You can read more about this story here.


Airport and airline procedures for dealing with grounded planes are intricate, sophisticated, and not always the most passenger-friendly.

For an aircraft to be considered officially grounded, it needs to have an issue that can't be swiftly mended.

The worst part is that once the aircraft is grounded, leaving the plane immediately isn't always feasible for safety reasons. There may be complications that could still pose potential dangers.

While decidedly inconvenient and certainly not an advertised part of the travel experience, these procedures serve to ensure passenger safety remains paramount.

Key Takeaways

  • Flight QF596 encountered an issue with its hydraulic system that affected its steering after landing.
  • As a consequence of the system malfunction, 120 passengers were forced to stay in the plane, which was left grounded on the tarmac for about five hours. Multiple other Qantas flights were also cancelled or diverted as a result.
  • Despite efforts from firefighters, specialist engineers and tow trucks, the issue was not resolved until much later in the evening.
  • Following the incident, Qantas issued an apology and took full responsibility for the inconvenience, but the facilitation of customer service during the issue was heavily criticised by passengers on board.

In light of this unfortunate incident, we urge you to be vigilant of airline and airport customer service standards, especially during the upcoming holiday season.

How do you think Qantas handled this incident? Let us know in the comments below.
What do you expect from the scumbag company Qantas over rated shit company 🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬
 
  • Like
Reactions: Chris Hills
When oxygen masks suddenly burst out from the roof of a plane, it’s often a signal to prepare for emergencies.

But for the 120 or so passengers onboard a Qantas flight on the night of August 6, nothing had dropped from the ceiling, and yet they still found themselves stuck in an extremely dire situation.


Flight QF596 travelling from Sydney, had landed at the Gold Coast Airport just after 8:30 pm. While the 120 or so passengers were getting ready to disembark, an unforeseen turn of events prevented them from doing so.

According to reports, the Boeing 737 they were on had encountered an issue that left the plane grounded on the tarmac for five hours. This left passengers stranded with no food or water.

'Our Sydney to Gold Coast flight on Monday night was towed from the runway to the gate because of an issue with the aircraft's nose wheel steering,' a Qantas representative said.


View attachment 30358
Qantas is under scrutiny from the public once more after another incident has come to light. Image Credit: Shutterstock.


So what were the consequences of this issue? Nine flights that were scheduled to depart from the Gold Coast airport were impacted, seven of which were rerouted to Brisbane, two flights landed in Coolangatta later in the evening, and two flights departing from the Gold Coast were cancelled.

While those 120 passengers said they were forced to spend the next five hours sitting inside the plane, a Qantas spokesperson said the plane was only delayed for three hours.


Firefighters, specialist engineers and even tow trucks were called in to try and assess the issue, but it wasn't until later in the evening that the plane was finally towed away.

Unsurprisingly, those on the plane were extremely upset with the level of service they received.

One passenger shared, 'I am so disappointed in Qantas services...We’ve been on a plane for five hours.'

While another claimed that the Qantas staff were handing out red and white wine to the passengers because they had ‘run out of water.’

Qantas was quick to apologise for the situation and offered a statement taking full responsibility.

'We apologise for the inconvenience and would like to thank our customers for their patience while we organised for the aircraft to be manually towed,' said a spokesperson for the airline.

While this shocking incident may seem like a one-time occurrence, in the past year, Qantas has had its fair share of shocking headlines.

This story also comes hot on the heels of Alan Joyce, the airline’s CEO, resigning after months of controversy and complaints from customers. You can read more about this story here.


Airport and airline procedures for dealing with grounded planes are intricate, sophisticated, and not always the most passenger-friendly.

For an aircraft to be considered officially grounded, it needs to have an issue that can't be swiftly mended.

The worst part is that once the aircraft is grounded, leaving the plane immediately isn't always feasible for safety reasons. There may be complications that could still pose potential dangers.

While decidedly inconvenient and certainly not an advertised part of the travel experience, these procedures serve to ensure passenger safety remains paramount.

Key Takeaways

  • Flight QF596 encountered an issue with its hydraulic system that affected its steering after landing.
  • As a consequence of the system malfunction, 120 passengers were forced to stay in the plane, which was left grounded on the tarmac for about five hours. Multiple other Qantas flights were also cancelled or diverted as a result.
  • Despite efforts from firefighters, specialist engineers and tow trucks, the issue was not resolved until much later in the evening.
  • Following the incident, Qantas issued an apology and took full responsibility for the inconvenience, but the facilitation of customer service during the issue was heavily criticised by passengers on board.

In light of this unfortunate incident, we urge you to be vigilant of airline and airport customer service standards, especially during the upcoming holiday season.

How do you think Qantas handled this incident? Let us know in the comments below.
Would NEVER fly with Qantas.....they've proven to be unreliable, unsafe and flights being cancelled daily.
Thanks to Allan Joyce, Qantas has such a bad name now.
Now he's left the "sinking ship" in a shocking state and been given all those millions to enjoy !!!
He should not have been given a penny! Hope the new CEO can do a better job than Allan Joyce did.
 
I don’t call unnecessary media attention unnecessary. Qantas is a shambles, outsourced mechanics are a waste of money. Joyce was all about Money Saving., he couldn’t care two hoots, or maybe two leprechauns about human beings! Good riddance to him, the most hated man in Australia.
I'm sure he would be in "The Most Hated" Top 10 but not sure that he would be No. 1. That varies almost daily :)
 
I certainly don't intend to fly Qantas. We have just flown Singapore Airlines and they left and arrived on time. Plenty of helping staff both ends, no hassles. Luggage arrived, meals were great. Nothing to complain about, yeah
 
  • Like
Reactions: Chris Hills
Would NEVER fly with Qantas.....they've proven to be unreliable, unsafe and flights being cancelled daily.
Thanks to Allan Joyce, Qantas has such a bad name now.
Now he's left the "sinking ship" in a shocking state and been given all those millions to enjoy !!!
He should not have been given a penny! Hope the new CEO can do a better job than Allan Joyce did.
Unsafe! How do you work that out? Check the reliable stats . One of the worlds safest airlines!
 

Join the conversation

News, deals, games, and bargains for Aussies over 60. From everyday expenses like groceries and eating out, to electronics, fashion and travel, the club is all about helping you make your money go further.

Seniors Discount Club

The SDC searches for the best deals, discounts, and bargains for Aussies over 60. From everyday expenses like groceries and eating out, to electronics, fashion and travel, the club is all about helping you make your money go further.
  1. New members
  2. Jokes & fun
  3. Photography
  4. Nostalgia / Yesterday's Australia
  5. Food and Lifestyle
  6. Money Saving Hacks
  7. Offtopic / Everything else

Latest Articles

  • We believe that retirement should be a time to relax and enjoy life, not worry about money. That's why we're here to help our members make the most of their retirement years. If you're over 60 and looking for ways to save money, connect with others, and have a laugh, we’d love to have you aboard.
  • Advertise with us

User Menu

Enjoyed Reading our Story?

  • Share this forum to your loved ones.
Change Weather Postcode×
Change Petrol Postcode×