Incident
On October 7, 2008, at 12:42 local time, a Qantas Airways Airbus A330-300, registered VH-QPA, was cruising near Learmonth Aerodrome when it executed an abrupt pitch down maneuver. The aircraft was operating a scheduled passenger flight from Singapore to Perth, Australia. Following the event, the flight crew diverted the aircraft to Learmonth, Australia.
Injuries and Damage
During the pitch event, 2 crew members and 20 passengers sustained serious injuries. No further details on injuries or aircraft damage were provided in the source.
Investigation
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) is leading the accident investigation. The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Bureau d'Enquêtes et d'Analyses pour la Sécurité de l'Aviation civile (BEA) of France have provided accredited representatives to assist the ATSB. All inquiries concerning this investigation should be directed to the ATSB.
For more information, contact the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB), P.O. Box 967, Civic Square, Canberra A.C.T. 2608, Australia, or visit http://www.atsb.gov.au.