Qantas Flight to Johannesburg Delayed 21 Hours After Aerobridge Hits Plane

QF63 to Johannesburg grounded after aerobridge strikes plane engine

For passengers aboard Qantas flight QF63, Saturday morning began with boarding passes and travel plans, but ended in hotel rooms after a rare and frustrating incident at Sydney Airport grounded their aircraft.

The long-haul flight, bound for Johannesburg, South Africa, was scheduled to take off at 9:30am. But just before takeoff, an aerobridge, a mobile walkway used for boarding, made contact with the aircraft’s engine, forcing all passengers off the plane and triggering a 21-hour delay.

No Injuries, But Plenty of Inconvenience

Thankfully, no one was injured in the incident. However, the delay has left passengers with a day-long detour, and Qantas with a major headache. Engineers are now assessing the Airbus A380 for any structural damage before it can return to service.

“We’re investigating how an aerobridge made contact with the engine of one of our aircraft,” a Qantas spokesperson said. “We know flight disruptions are frustrating and we apologise to our customers for the impact to their travel.”

The airline has rescheduled the flight to depart at 6:45am on Sunday, leaving many passengers stranded for nearly an entire day.

Stranded in Sydney: What Happens Now?

For affected travelers, the delay has turned a routine international journey into a logistical nightmare. Qantas has offered overnight accommodation and transport in Sydney for those who need it, but many passengers expressed their frustration on social media, with one user writing:

“I get it, safety first—but how does something like this even happen? We’re losing a whole day.”

Others worried about missed connections, business meetings, or simply the emotional toll of delayed reunions and disrupted holidays. One traveler from Durban tweeted:

“We were all seated and ready to go when the announcement came. Disappointed, but fingers crossed we actually leave tomorrow.”

How Could This Happen?

While Qantas has not released specific details, aviation experts say such incidents, where ground equipment like an aerobridge hits an aircraft—are rare but not unheard of. Often, they come down to miscommunication or mechanical error. The incident is now under internal review.

In Australia’s tightly managed aviation sector, a 21-hour delay for a flagship international route like Sydney to Johannesburg is highly unusual and the airline will likely want to prevent a repeat.

A Blow to Qantas’ Recent Push for Reliability

The mishap comes at a time when Qantas has been making headlines for its efforts to improve punctuality and customer service after a turbulent few years of pandemic-era disruptions. The incident is a reminder that even in a well-oiled operation, things can and do go wrong.

For now, QF63 passengers are left with little choice but to wait it out, keep their travel documents handy, and hope that Sunday’s sunrise brings better news and finally, a flight to South Africa.

{Source: News.com,au}

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