Qantas cancels Tokyo-Melb flight after nightclub brawl

[Shoukan Lingerer]

Had a good laugh at this! from the Sydney Morning Herald

This is QF180 to Melbourne - your crew is fighting outside
By Alexandra Smith, Transport Reporter
March 30, 2005

Stormy weather, rowdy passengers and security threats, sure, but squabbling flight crew? That was the reason behind the cancellation of a Qantas flight from Tokyo to Melbourne on Good Friday.

Qantas has launched an investigation into a fight involving several of the aircraft's flight crew that ended up delaying hundreds of passengers and left a crew member in hospital.

The scuffle started out as a heated argument in a Tokyo night spot, about 15 hours before the long-haul crew was due to start work on the flight to Melbourne. As it intensified at least one punch was thrown, with one crew member needing treatment in hospital, it is understood.

A spokesman for Qantas, Michael Sharp, confirmed an "incident" had happened in Japan over the Easter weekend and said the airline had immediately launched an investigation.

Mr Sharp said Qantas had to cancel the flight because a member of the flight crew had been stood down - with full pay. However, all passengers at Tokyo Narita were found seats on another flight via Sydney about an hour and a half later, he said.

"Qantas is interviewing all those involved as part of an ongoing investigation," he said. Mr Sharp could not comment on the cause of the fight, but said the flight, QF180, was abandoned.

Michael Mijatov, head of the international division of the Flight Attendants Association of Australia, said he had spoken to the two staff members at the centre of the fight.

Mr Mijatov would not reveal any more details, but said he hoped Qantas would fully investigate the incident.

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[Charles]

There's a simple and obvious way to avoid this sort of problem: cancel all flights from Melbourne to Tokyo.

[Ol Dirty Gaijin]

I'm Self Loading Freight on that plane next week. 11 hours of crap service, no entertainment system, the oldest planes in the Qantas fleet.
Cancellation of flights on major days is a Qantas premium service and happens all too often.

From Crikey

Do not fly ex-Sydney the day following large gay parties such as Mardis Gras or Harbour Party. Half of the attendants have already rung in sick with the other half still coming down from a range of substances and possibly manning the wrong position on take off.

Do not approach a first class flight attendant as he walks down the economy aisle to the crew bunks at the rear of the plane. You are a loathsome economy cheapskate, he is entitled to sleeping half of the flight and therefore won't care or will only pretend he does.

If you are flying ex-LA and don't like the service, then you can get stuffed and fly United because they are the only other airline servicing the highly profitable route.

Not much different than the direct choice to Tokyo

A "10 day London" which consists of 3 or 4 working days flying, 6 nights in deluxe hotels in Singapore and London, a daily allowance and zero work obligation during your stay is considered to be a real hassle and ringing in sick is seen as a good option if you don't feel like doing it. You might end up bidding successfully for a better trip when you are re-rostered.

There's a simple and obvious way to avoid this sort of problem: cancel all flights from Melbourne to Tokyo.

Oh the wit Charles! You must kill you sometimes.
You would have done better to say cancel Qantas flights and even Australians would agree with you.

[FG Lurker]

There's a simple and obvious way to avoid this sort of problem: cancel all flights from Melbourne to Tokyo.

There's a simple and obvious way to avoid this sort of post from Charles: cancel his account.

[dimwit]

You would have done better to say cancel Qantas flights and even Australians would agree with you.

I doubt they can hold a patch to Air Canada for poor service. To work there you have to have an over-40 never-found-Mr.Right-so-I-hate-all-men attitude.

There was an incident several years ago on Korean Airlines where the pilot and co-pilot got into a fight in-flight, but I can't find anything on the internet. I think it happened about 1995-1997.

[FG Lurker]

You would have done better to say cancel Qantas flights and even Australians would agree with you.

I doubt they can hold a patch to Air Canada for poor service. To work there you have to have an over-40 never-found-Mr.Right-so-I-hate-all-men attitude.

Northwest is even worse though. They aren't called NorthWORST for nothing!! But I agree Air Canada service is shitty. (Northworst's food might actually be better than Air Canada's.)

[...] but I can't find anything on the internet. I think it happened about 1995-19 internet. I think it happened about 1995-1997.

Don't mess with my mind like that! I'm already in a frail mental state.

[Mennon]

Simple rule: NEVER fly Qantas. Any Australian will tell you that.

Famous exchange, and true.

Passenger: Excuse me miss? This warm towel isn't warm.
Stewardess: Well, maybe if you sat on it for a while, that should warm it up.

Check http://www.crikey.com.au for more

[Mennon]

Here we go

http://www.crikey.com.au/articles/2004/01/06-0002.html

[ichigo partygirl]

i have had one very good and one very bad qantas experience.
Good: upgraded to buisness class because i was the only white person on the plane
Bad: Qantas NZ going bankrupt and not having flight home

[kurohinge1]

... This-is-QF180-to-Melbourne--your-crew-is-fighting-outside

... The scuffle started out as a heated argument in a Tokyo night spot, about 15 hours before the long-haul crew was due to start work on the flight to Melbourne. As it intensified at least one punch was thrown, with one crew member needing treatment in hospital, it is understood ...

It's a worry that they now number them - QF180 = Qantas Fight 180 ?

But it did remind me of of a few things, like:

Qantas Maintenance Humor

and this story, about an Asiana pilot ...

... Pranged in Anchorage trying to do a "U" turn in a parking bay... in a 747-400???? Poor Aeroflot was in the way though, minding his business, parked at the gate with passengers on board.

Asiana thumped his # 1 engine against Aeroflot's wing and tore open the engine cowling and fuel lines on the 747, pissing fuel all over the apron. With standard Korean procedure, that calls for more power so you can get out of the way and hope nobody saw! This he did, but it was icy as hell on the ramp. The skid started and took out 2 Evergreen staff vehicles sending the occupants fleeing for cover. THE CIRCUS HAD BEGUN!

Still more power and he put his left wing (last 15-20 feet) into the vertical stab of the IL62 and cut into the tail about 15 feet. When he reached the main spar of the vertical stab... the 747 stopped... you guessed it..... MORE POWER!!! I think he thought there was still time to run for it but he didn't seem to be going anywhere.......SO..........MORE POWER!!!!!!!!!!!! In trying to escape the grips of the Russian aircraft, he managed to reach take-off thrust, and in so doing, put a bunch of containers behind the aircraft through the terminal building and trashed it. Heard NCA got it in the lamps. Japs must be pleased about that! Still no shutdown or evacuation (fuel still pissing everywhere over the apron from the 747 #1 engine) The Yank ground mechanics finally managed to run over and told them to shut the aircraft down but the crew were busy writing a report for management to apportion the blame. mmmmmmmm.....Yes, PLEASE???!!! Hell, no one is safe around these guys! After the entertainment ended, spoke to our crew driver and she said the two vehicles he hit during his exhibition were badly trashed. The Asiana aircraft is looking quite sad. Took all day yesterday to separate the two aircraft and in desperation, the mechanics finally had to cut about 20 feet of the Asiana left wing off to get the aircraft apart. Talk about "dog lock"! The engine is off and the cowlings are all torn open. The opposition (Aeroflot) was taking cover in the hangar...Good idea! ... more

[GomiGirl]

Well I am one of those people who had to suffer last Friday. I was booked on this flight and then had a panicy phone call from my travel agent telling me to get my butt out to the airport immediately as my Melb flight had been cancelled and I had to get on the Sydney flight. It was a zoo at the checkin counter.

But I managed to get on the Sydney flight (not a spare seat on the whole plane) and was able to do a bit more shopping in Sydney duty free before the melbourne leg.

[cliffy]

Having spent two years carting the lazy-assed long haul QANTAS flight crews to their paid hotels (and being treated like a slave) my reaction is, FUCKEM OFF. With no dismissal bonus of course and get some real life people to work the job.

Not likely to happen

[American Oyaji]

How do you pronounce Qantas? is it Quantas?

[cliffy]

Queensland And Northern Territory Aerial Service, (QANTAS), Pronounced As you guessed AO, good job But it is never spelled with the "U" as it is an acronym.

[gomichild]

Don't even get me started on that company...they put me thru hell in December.

[American Oyaji]

Queensland And Northern Territory Aerial Service, (QANTAS), Pronounced As you guessed AO, good job But it is never spelled with the "U" as it is an acronym.

I did NOT know that.

[Ol Dirty Gaijin]

How do you pronounce Qantas? is it Quantas?

No, it should be pronounced the Japanese way, kantasu..