Etihad jet makes mayday call after instrument failure
PUBLISHED ONNovember 21, 2013 7:01 AM
SYDNEY - An Etihad Airways passenger jet made an emergency landing in Brisbane on Thursday after issuing a mayday call following a flight deck instrument failure.
The Airbus A330 service from Brisbane to Singapore returned to the Queensland state capital shortly after take off, and landed safely.
"A mayday call was issued and the A330 made an emergency landing," an airport official told AFP of the Abu Dhabi-based plane, which was reportedly carrying about 250 passengers.
The airline said flight EY473 returned to Brisbane "due to a flight deck instrument failure".
"The flight crew followed all standard operational procedures, declared an emergency, and made a precautionary landing," it said in a statement to AFP.
"The aircraft landed without incident and all passengers and crew are safe. Passengers are being rebooked to continue their journey on alternate carriers."
The airport official said emergency crews were on standby but they were not required.
The scare comes just days after Etihad placed an order for 87 Airbus planes valued at around US$19 billion (S$23.6 billion) at list prices, including A330s.