Qantas A380 Operated Sydney to Dallas with Tool Left in Wing
An investigation has been initiated after a tool was located in the left wing of a Qantas Airbus A380-800 following its flights from Australia to the United States.
According to the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB), this foreign object was identified at Sydney Airport (SYD) when the Qantas aircraft returned from Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW). The Qantas Airbus A380, with the registration VH-OQK, had completed two flights before the tool was found.
As part of the investigation, ATSB representatives will conduct interviews with those involved, review maintenance records, and gather other pertinent information for their inquiry.
The ATSB noted, “A final report will be released at the conclusion of the investigation. If any critical safety issues arise during this investigation, the ATSB will promptly inform relevant stakeholders so they can take necessary safety measures.”
The A380, which has been in service with Qantas since 2011, is 14 years old. It was stored at Zayed International Airport (AUH) in Abu Dhabi from February to December 2024.
This incident is not the first of its kind. The ATSB previously launched an investigation into Qantas after another foreign object was found inside an aircraft. On February 2, 2024, a compressor turning tool was discovered behind the fan blades of the number one engine on a Qantas A380 at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).
During a maintenance inspection at LAX, mechanics uncovered this foreign object, which was initially reported missing on December 6, 2023, as detailed in an ATSB report.
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