Mid-air emergency as packed Jetstar flight from Sydney to Bali is forced to turn around when the plane’s windshield CRACKS at 40,000ft
- The plane took off from Sydney International Airport on Wednesday evening
- Was flying over the Northern Territory when the mid-air emergency unfolded
- Jetstar told Daily Mail Australia the pilots saw a crack a window in the cockpit
- Airline spokeswoman said structural integrity of the plane wasn’t compromised
A Jetstar flight bound for Bali was forced to turn around and head to Melbourne after pilots noticed a crack appearing in the windshield.
The plane took off from Sydney International Airport just before 5pm on Wednesday and was flying over the Northern Territory when the mid-air emergency unfolded.
A spokeswoman for the airline told Daily Mail Australia the pilots saw a crack in one of the windows in the cockpit three hours into the seven-hour trip.
A Jetstar flight bound for Bali was forced to turn around and head to Melbourne after pilots noticed a crack appearing in the windshield The plane (pictured on a previous flight) took off from Sydney International Airport just before 5pm on Wednesday
The structural integrity of the plane wasn’t compromised, but the flight was re-routed because ‘safety is a priority’, Jetstar said.
The plane safely landed at Melbourne airport. Passengers were provided with overnight accommodation and alternative flights were organised.
Travellers expressed their concern on social media about what had happened to the plane as they waited for friends and family to arrive in Indonesia.
‘Why wouldn’t they go to Darwin if so close – why go back to Melbourne?’, one person wrote.
Daily Mail Australia understands Melbourne was the closest airport where the necessary repairs to the plane could be made.
Another worried friend of a passenger said: ‘We have friends meeting us in Bali tonight and looking on the flight radar the plane has turned over the Northern Territory and now it’s heading to Melbourne.’
Daily Mail Australia understands Melbourne was the closest airport where the necessary repairs to the plane could be made
‘Having been on a flight to Denpasar before that was diverted to Darwin just before we landed, I feel for all on board it’s the worst feeling ever,’ another wrote.
The aircraft, registered under VH-VKE, also experienced a technical issue in 2015 during a flight from Melbourne to Singapore.
Four hours into the trip the airspeed indications became erratic and the autopilot disconnected after entering an area with high ice water content.
The aircraft reverted to a mode with fewer automated functions.
After 17 seconds, the airspeed returned to normal but because of the reversion the plane would have needed to be flown manually, so it landed in Darwin.