A Qantas plane bound for Texas was forced to turn back to Sydney on Tuesday after passengers started hearing an ‘unbearable whistling sound’.
Flight QF7 had only been in the air for a couple of hours when passengers noticed a very loud ‘whistling’ sound coming from one of the plane’s doors.
Upon learning of the noise, the pilot diverted the plane and headed straight back to Kingsford Smith Airport in Sydney – but not before dumping fuel into the ocean.
One passenger aboard flight QF7 who managed to capture footage (pictured) of the plane dumping fuel into the ocean telephoned radio station 2GB to talk about the ordeal
Qantas told news.com.au in a statement that the decision to turn around and head back to Sydney was based on passenger comfort and not safety.
‘A door seal was creating a high pitched whistling noise in the cabin so in the interests of passenger comfort the captain decided to return to Sydney,’ the spokesperson said.
The Qantas spokesperson said at no time were passengers in any danger, and added engineers have since begun inspecting the aircraft to ensure its safety.
‘Cabin pressure was always maintained and the aircraft landed safely and without incident,’ the spokesperson said.
One passenger aboard flight QF7 who managed to capture footage of the plane dumping fuel into the ocean telephoned radio station 2GB to talk about the ordeal.
The passenger, who identified himself as Colin, told the radio host the cause of the ‘whistling’ sound was due to a faulty door seal.
Qantas flight QF7 had only been in the air – on its way from Sydney to Dallas – for a couple of hours when passengers noticed a very loud ‘whistling’ sound coming from one of the plane’s doors (flight path pictured)
The passenger said that cabin crew informed everyone on board that the plane would return to Sydney due to the sound being ‘unbearable’.
‘It was more than just the whistling noise because the steward told us that passengers couldn’t sit near the door because it was far too noisy and [cabin crew] couldn’t work near the door,’ he said.
He told radio host Ben Fordham cabin crew had also explained to him that the decision to dump some fuel was necessary for safety reasons.
‘They actually have to dump fuel because they can’t land heavy – it’s too dangerous,’ Colin said.
The passenger then told Fordham he was happy with the airline’s decision to head back to Sydney, saying it was a ‘sensible thing to do’.
While no one was reportedly injured during the mid-flight ordeal, it’s not the first time a Qantas plane bound for Dallas, Texas has had to turn around and head back to Sydney.
Another Qantas QF7 plane on the same route had to return back to Sydney in 2017.
At the time, Qantas officials said: ‘The flaps on the aircraft (attached to the wing) are unable to retract which means the aircraft can’t fly efficiently,’ news.com.au reported.
A plane bound for Dallas, Texas was forced to turn back to Sydney on Tuesday after passengers reported they could hear a strange ‘whistling sound’ (stock image)