Qantas plane grounded as dog chews through wiring

[Bernie P]

Qantas plane grounded as dog chews through wiring

A QANTAS jet has been grounded after a dog in the cargo hold escaped from its cage and snacked on parts of the aircraft's interior.

The animal chewed through electrical wiring and panels so tough that they are difficult to cut with a knife.

The first indication of trouble occurred when the Airbus A330 left Auckland bound for Melbourne on December 7, The Courier-Mail reports.

A warning light in the cockpit indicated problems with the auxiliary power unit - a small jet in the tail that supplies electricity for various systems when the aircraft is on the ground.

As the engine had been shut down after take-off there was no risk to the aircraft. But when ground handlers opened the cargo hold in Melbourne they were confronted with an angry, distressed dog.

An inspection revealed that after somehow getting out of its transportation cage the animal chewed through the wiring loom to the unit, Qantas reported to the Australian Transport Safety Bureau.

An aviation engineering source said: "The dog ripped out several wires which set off the cockpit warning and then it had a go at a number of electrical units in the rear of the plane.

"Under duress the animal obviously went nuts, biting through anything that it came across.

"I do not know the breed but the dog had to be fairly big with a big bite to damage cargo hold panels that are as tough as billy goat boots - it is difficult to even cut through this material with a knife."

The source said the plane had not been in any danger and probably the most surprised people were the ground workers who opened the cargo hold to be greeted by the dog.

News.com.au

[Jack B]

would this A330 of been an A332 operating LAX-AKL-MEL?

[Sarah C]

Originally Posted by Jack Brownbill

would this A330 of been an A332 operating LAX-AKL-MEL?

Correct Jack. It must be a slow news day - the incident happened more than a month ago.

[NickN]

cargo hold panels that are as tough as billy goat boots

I read that somewhere in the Airbus brochure

[Rich W]

I've heard of a child bringing down a commercial airliner, but not a dog!

[Grahame Hutchison]

Sounds like an Intercontinental Ballistic Dog to me.

[Jack B]

do A330's still operate on that route?

[Raymond Rowe]

Airbus the wonder dog.

[NickN]

Sounds like the dog had a "ruff" flight.

Or should that be a "ruff ruff" flight

[Grant Smith]

Originally Posted by NickN

Sounds like the dog had a "ruff" flight.

Or should that be a "ruff ruff" flight

You're barking up the wrong tree again Nick..