Incident Overview
On a scheduled passenger service from Hong Kong to Melbourne, Australia, Qantas Flight 30, a Boeing 747-400 registered as VH-OJK, experienced an in-flight emergency. At approximately 11:15 AM local time near Manila, Philippines, a section of the fuselage separated at an altitude of around 29,000 feet. This resulted in a rapid depressurization of the cabin.
Crew Response
The flight crew initiated standard procedures following the depressurization. They descended the aircraft to 10,000 feet and diverted to Manila. The aircraft executed a safe landing at the airport and taxied to the terminal unassisted. The 346 passengers and 19 crew members disembarked without reported injuries.
Investigation
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) is leading the investigation into the accident. The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) dispatched an Accredited Representative and a technical advisor for aircraft airworthiness to Manila to assist the ATSB. Representatives from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Boeing also traveled as technical advisors to the U.S. Accredited Representative.
The ATSB requests that all inquiries be directed to their office in Canberra, Australia.