Qantas
(ASX:QAN) has been forced to dispel fears about passenger safety following a series of mechanical problems involving some of the airline’s planes in the past week.
Among the five incidents that have been reported since late March and which disrupted flights, included an aircraft with a cracked windscreen, a tyre blowout and a passenger who threatened to bring down an aircraft using mind power.
Qantas board members met in Melbourne yesterday for what’s been described as a routine meeting where the technical issues are likely to have been discussed.
Unions have accused the airline of keeping senior engineers in the dark about details of the recent mechanical issues. Qantas has however rejected those accusations.
The union representing the engineers is calling for more information as well as a full investigation by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority.
Qantas reported a 2009 net profit of $117 million.
