Window cracks force Jetstar flight from Sydney to Bali to turn back
A Jetstar flight travelling from Sydney to Bali was forced to land in Melbourne after the pilots noticed cracks in the cockpit window.
NSW
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A Jetstar flight en route to Bali from Sydney was forced to turn back and land in Melbourne after pilots noticed cracks 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 incident occurred.
Jetstar told The Daily Telegraph that pilots of flight JQ37 noticed a crack in one of the windows in the cockpit around three hours into the seven-hour trip.
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A spokesman said that while the plane’s structure wasn’t compromised, the flight turned back because “as a precaution... to prevent further delays.”
The plane landed without incident at Tullamarine and passengers were provided with overnight accommodation and alternative flights are being organised.
Passengers expressed concern via social media.
“Why wouldn’t they go to Darwin if so close — why go back to Melbourne?” one person wrote.
A friend of a passenger added: “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.”
But Jetstar defended the decision to divert the flight to Melbourne, saying resources needed to fix the damage were in Victoria.
“The fact our base is in Melbourne meant that the aircraft could be fixed as quickly as possible preventing any further delays,” the spokesman said.
“If it carried on to Denpasar or went to Darwin we would’ve had to send parts.”
Jetstar hopes to book replacement flights for passengers today.