[Nigel C]

Looks like the recent maintenance missed something, or spilt something where they shouldn't have...

Cabin fumes force down military plane

AAP
January 28, 2009 03:23pm

A PLANE carrying Australian defence personnel and supplies to the Middle East has been forced to make an emergency landing in Darwin after smoke and fumes filled the cabin.
At least three people were taken to hospital suffering smoke inhalation soon after the plane returned to Darwin International Airport at 2.10am (CST) today.

The Airbus A330 had taken off from the same airport at 11.15pm (CST) yesterday.

Private Australian company Strategic Aviation had been hired by the Australian Defence Force to transport passengers and light cargo as part of a "regular sustainment service'' to Kuwait, a defence spokeswoman said.

She was unable to confirm media reports that there had been 80 ADF personnel aboard the flight.
Simon Moore, commercial manager of Strategic Aviation, said the plane was 40 minutes into the eight-hour flight when the crew noticed "a strong smell within the cabin''.

"The captain and crew followed normal operating procedures and returned to Darwin to investigate the issue,'' he said.

"No passengers were affected however three crew members were taken to Darwin hospital as a precautionary measure.''

But a Darwin Airport spokeswoman said those taken to Royal Darwin Hospital, and later released, were "one crew and two passengers''.

The airport spokeswoman described the incident as a "full emergency situation with smoke and fumes in cabin''.

The plane was currently parked at the airport with "all doors and hatches open,'' she said.

Mr Moore said the "irregular smell'' was believed to have come from an air-conditioning system.

It is currently being in investigated by the company, with the ADF saying it believed "a technical fault'' had forced the landing.

"The aircraft landed safely and without further incident. All company and operational procedures were followed,'' Mr Moore said.

The defence spokeswoman said no ADF personnel were injured as a result of the incident and the department would not release details about how many people were on board the flight.

"Personal details of the ADF personnel aboard the flight will not be released,'' she said.

Strategic Aviation was accused in July 2007 of caring more about profits than safety.

Former staff told the ABC that the company, which has carried thousands of Australian troops to overseas war zones, was failing to maintain a commitment to aviation safety standards.

Strategic Aviation strenuously denied the claims and said it was the victim of a commercially motivated campaign to discredit it.