Pilots operating a Qantas Boeing 747-400 a flight from Hong Kong on November 17 aborted their takeoff roll after hearing a loud bang from one of the aircraft’s engines.
According to media reports, the 747 with 313 people on board was approaching rotation speed when the noise occurred, forcing pilots to initiate a high-speed rejected takeoff. The captain chose to then taxi back to the terminal to offload passengers and conduct an engineering inspection of the aircraft, while the airline decided to cancel the flight.
Subsequent inspection found that there was damage to the compressor blades of one of the aircraft’s engines, resulting in the aircraft being temporarily grounded while repairs were undertaken. As per standard procedure, the airline says that it has reported the incident to the Australian Transport Safety Bureau.
