Boeing 747-400

Full Narrative

At approximately 11:15 AM local time, Manila, Philippines, the crew of Qantas flt 30, a Boeing 747-400, VH-OJK, executed an emergency landing after a section of the fuselage separated at an altitude of approximately 29,000 feet and resulted in a rapid depressurization of the cabin. The flight was scheduled passenger service from Hong Kong to Melbourne Australia. Following the depressurization event, the crew descended the aircraft to 10,000 feet in accordance with established procedures and diverted the aircraft to Manila where a safe landing was carried out. The aircraft taxied to the terminal unassisted, where the passengers and crew disembarked. There were no reported injuries to the 346 passengers or 19 crew members.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) is investigating this accident, and the NTSB dispatched a U.S. Accredited Representative as well as a technical advisor for aircraft airworthiness to Manila to assist the ATSB. Representatives from the Federal Aviation Administration and Boeing also traveled as technical advisors to the U.S. Accredited Representative. All requests for information should be directed to the ATSB:

Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB)
P.O. Box 967, Civic Square
Canberra A.C.T. 2608
Australia

Website: http://www.atsb.gov.au