No fatalities

Qantas Boeing 747-400 Generator Control Unit Failure Near Bangkok

Bangkok, Thailand

On January 7, 2008, a Boeing 747-400 operated by Qantas was involved in an aviation accident near Bangkok, Thailand. No fatalities were reported. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 15 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 2026-08-03Data APIEditorial standards
Boeing 747-400
Photo: Tosaka / CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

On 7 January 2008, a Qantas Boeing 747-400, registration OJM, lost all four generator control units about 30 minutes from Bangkok. The aircraft landed using standby power and instruments, with 334 passengers aboard and no injuries reported.

Incident Overview and Aircraft Details On January 7, 2008, a Qantas Boeing 747-400, registration OJM, was reported to have experienced the loss of all four generator control units (GCUs) approximately a half hour before arriving at Bangkok, Thailand. The aircraft subsequently landed using standby power and instruments. ## Passenger Manifest and Safety Outcomes At the time of the incident, 334 passengers were on board the aircraft. No injuries were reported in connection with the event. ## Reported Contributing Factors Reports indicated that standing water was present in the galley located above the GCUs. Additionally, it was reported that the drip tray, which would have prevented water intrusion, was cracked. ## Investigation and Follow-Up The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) is investigating the incident. The GCUs were removed from the aircraft and are scheduled to be examined at the US manufacturer. The ATSB can be contacted for further information at telephone (02) 6274 6141 or email [email protected].