Three passengers on Link Airways flight assessed for minor injuries

[Greg Hyde]

Three passengers on Link Airways flight assessed for minor injuries after incident at Canberra Airport

Three people have been assessed for minor injuries after an unusual incident at Canberra Airport this morning, the Australian Federal Police say.
The incident occurred on a Link Airways SAAB 340 turboprop passenger aircraft bound for Sydney, scheduled to leave Canberra Airport about 8am.

Shortly after take-off, a ratchet strap attached to a propeller punctured the side of the plane, with one of its ends appearing inside the cabin.
Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) Chief Commissioner Angus

Mitchell said the strap had been used to secure the propeller overnight and had not been removed.

The aircraft returned to the airport after just 14 minutes in the air.
"Transport safety investigators from the ATSB's Canberra office have deployed to Canberra Airport to inspect the aircraft, to begin the process of interviewing the flight crew and passengers, and to gather other relevant information for the investigation," Mr Mitchell said.

A spokeswoman from the Australian Federal Police said three people were assessed for minor injuries on the tarmac by the ACT Ambulance Service.

In a statement, Virgin Australia Group — a partner of Link Airways — said the crew followed standard operating procedures once they became aware of the incident, and nobody had been hurt.

"The aircraft landed safely at Canberra airport and there were no physical injuries to passengers or crew on board," a spokesperson said.
"All guests have disembarked safely and we are assisting both Link and authorities with their investigations."

Canberra Airport CEO Stephen Byron said there were no other delays to the airport's operations.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-11-...port/101639344

VA633 VH-VER

[Greg Hyde]

https://twitter.com/ironsider/status/1590570967746895872?ref_src=twsrc^tfw|twcamp^tweet embed|twterm^1590570967746895872|twgr^b1a37c61a7ef 518453d34c05d4e438d371ab9eb6|twcon^s1_&

[Rowan McKeever]

Interesting disconnect between statements by VA vs AFP and the ATSB.

Just a minor correction that it was VH-VEQ, which has not had a good couple of weeks by all accounts.

I'd be interested to know what other point on the aircraft the strap was attached to prior to the incident. I think with Dash 8s (from memory, and I've not flown on one since before COVID!) it's usually the prop and the airstairs; I wonder if the Saab is the same.

[Greg Hyde]

Thanks Rowan for the ATSB link,

FR24 showed VER

[Greg Hyde]

VA/Link was lucky in one respect.

None of Sydney TV news services ran the story.

[Rowan McKeever]

the ATSB has today released its final report into the aircraft preparation incident with VH-VEQ in Canberra in November 2022. I will leave people to read for themselves rather than say too much here but the report makes findings in relation to the aircraft operator (Link) and ground handler (Swissport), most of which are unlikely to be a surprise to the good folk who frequent this thread.

https://www.atsb.gov.au/media/news-i...ge-during-take

I note the question at the end of my last post in this thread is answered in the report, thank you ATSB