Fed: Undercarriage collapses on Qantas jet =2

AAP General News (Australia)
04-22-2000
Fed: Undercarriage collapses on Qantas jet =2

Qantas pilots' representative Chris Manning later described the incident as a major
embarrassment, capping a disastrous eight months for the airline.

"It's a major embarrassment, I would suggest," said Mr Manning, president of the Australian
International Pilots Association.

"We're always concerned when something like this happens, but we'll withhold comment
until we know exactly what went on.

"The captain is well and everything we have been told by people over there indicates
that everyone is fine."

The Brisbane-based Qantas pilot exclusively represents the airline's 1,900 pilots.

"There are over a hundred planes and we do expect things to go wrong with them," he said.

Mr Manning said he would seek a meeting with Qantas management over the issue on Monday
once he had received a full briefing from maintenance crews, pilots and airline crew aboard
the plane tomorrow.

He said Qantas pilots would not take any industrial action next week as it was too
early to tell what went wrong.

"We don't allow our people to fly faulty planes, but it's just too early to tell what
happened," he said.

"I'll be ready to make comment about it tomorrow."

AAP ap/apm/br y

KEYWORD: QANTAS N/L 2 SYDNEY (REOPENS)

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