A Qantas flight carrying three Liberal politicians has been forced to make a premature landing after the cabin began filling with smoke following a mid-air emergency.
Flight QF1972, bound for Canberra, turned back shortly after taking off from Adelaide Airport about 6.10am and landed safely around ten minutes later.
The E190 aircraft can carry nearly 100 passengers. It is understood the captain requested a priority landing after smoke appeared in the flight deck following take-off.
Senator Leah Blyth was travelling on board with two colleagues to a crucial agenda-setting meeting on net zero.
‘I’ve never had a cabin fill with smoke quite like that before,’ Blyth told radio station FIVEAA.
‘Hats off to the Qantas staff who were cool calm and collected and got us back on the ground safely.’
Senator Blyth said her travel plans remain uncertain ahead of the much-anticipated meeting, joking the net zero debate has ‘gone up in smoke’.
A Qantas spokesperson confirmed a ‘technical issue’ was behind the incident and engineers would check the aircraft today.
Qantas flight QF-1972 from Adelaide turned back minutes into the journey to Canberra after the cabin began to fill with smoke. The airline said a ‘technical issue’ was to blame (stock)
Senator Leah Blyth (pictured) was travelling with two other Liberal politicians on board the flight ahead of a crucial party meeting on net zero
‘All customers on board have since been put onto alternative flights,’ they said.
‘Our pilots are highly trained to handle situations like this and the aircraft landed safely after the appropriate procedures were conducted.’
Flight tracking data shows the aircraft turned back over St Vincent Gulf, west of McLaren Vale, before returning to Adelaide.
Liberals MPs and senators will gather in Canberra at midday to settle their position on whether to dump net zero or retain some elements of the emissions target.
It is widely tipped to loosen its commitment to net zero by 2050, but will likely retain some commitment to lowering emissions.
The senior Coalition party is hoping to land on a firm position ahead of a special meeting with members of the Nationals party on Sunday.
Blyth, who opposes net zero, said she is uncertain where her party will land following today’s meeting.
‘I think all of my colleagues are absolutely in favour of us doing our bit and to certainly have the minimal impact that we can on our natural environment,’ she told ABC Radio National Breakfast.
Flight QF-1972 landed safely in Adelaide shortly before 6.30am on Wednesday, some ten minutes after taking off from the airport. Pictured is its flight map
Blyth said she would continue to support embattled Opposition leader Sussan Ley regardless of the outcome.
Pressured to ask whether she would remain in the Shadow Ministry should the vote not go her way, Blyth wouldn’t be drawn.
‘I don’t want to get into hypotheticals, but if things change, I would have that discussion with the leader,’ she said.
‘But, you know, as it stands now, there’s a policy discussion that we’re having, and I have full confidence in our leader and Sussan.’
