Jetstar airbus lands at Rockhampton Airport after mid-flight issue

A Gold Coast to Cairns flight has landed at Rockhampton Airport after the discovery of a mid-flight issue.

A Jetstar Airbus A320 commercial passenger jet plane. Picture: Brendan Radke

Another aircraft has made an unexpected landing at Rockhampton Airport after a mid-flight issue – the third such landing for this airport in a month.

This morning a Jetstar airbus made an unexpected landing at the airport about 7.30am after leaving Cairns Airport.

“A flight from Gold Coast to Cairns this morning diverted to Rockhampton as a precaution after an unusual smell was detected,” a Jetstar spokesperson said.

“The aircraft landed normally.

“Engineers are inspecting the aircraft and we’re working to get customers on their way as soon as possible.

“We thank customers for their understanding and patience”

All passengers and crew evacuated the plane via the stairs and passengers were provided with refreshment vouchers for while they wait.

A replacement aircraft will continue the service this afternoon.

It is the third such landing at the regional airport in a month after a Qantas flight had to land for a medical emergency on October 2 and an Alliance flight made an emergency landing on September 17 after it went into a rapid descent.

A male in his 70s had a cardiac medical issue on October 2 during a flight and was taken to Rockhampton Hospital after the plane he was on landed at Rockhampton Airport that afternoon for medical assistance.

A QantasLink (Alliance Airlines) flight on a Embraer E190 left Townsville about 6am and was scheduled to land in Brisbane at 7.50am on September 17.

Eagle-eyed plane-spotters in Central Queensland reported just after 7.15am that there was “something up” and it underwent a rapid descent of about 20,000 feet (6000m) before diverting to Rockhampton Airport.

Flight data showed it was travelling at about 29,000 feet before dropping to about 5000 feet after the ‘Squawk 7700’ emergency declaration.

A terrified passenger has described the moment a Qantas flight went into emergency descent, dropping thousands of metres in a matter of minutes, after a cabin pressure issue.

“I was on the flight this morning, and I can tell you that it was not a fun ride going down so fast! I need to send out a search plane for my stomach,’’ Townsville woman Naomi Lynch said.

She shared how the rapid descent left passengers reeling.

Originally published as Jetstar airbus lands at Rockhampton Airport after mid-flight issue