Today the Australian Transport Safety Bureau is releasing its Preliminary Factual report on the depressurisation of Boeing 747-438, VH-OJK, 475 km northwest of the Philippines, while being operated on a scheduled passenger flight from Hong Kong to Melbourne on 25 July 2008. It is important to note that the information contained in the preliminary factual report, as the name suggests, is limited to preliminary factual information that has been establish in the initial investigation of the accident. Caution should be exercised that there is the possibility that new evidence may become available…

The following is the text of the media briefing given by Ms Kerryn Macaulay, Director, Strategy and Capability, at 10am 14 November 2008. Good morning. I am releasing the Australian Transport Safety Bureau's Preliminary Factual report on the in-flight upset of an Airbus A330 aircraft, registered as VH-QPA, which occurred 154 km west of Learmonth, Western Australia, while being operated on a scheduled passenger flight (Qantas Flight 72) from Singapore to Perth on 7 October 2008. The ATSB immediately commenced an investigation into this accident[i] and has been working collaboratively with our…

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau was advised yesterday afternoon of an occurrence involving an Airbus A330-300 aircraft while on a flight from Singapore to Perth, operating as Qantas Flight 72. The aircraft, which had 303 passengers and 10 crew on board, was in normal level flight at 37,000 ft about 110 nautical miles north of Carnarvon and 80 nautical miles from Learmonth near Exmouth in north-western Australia, when the pilots received electronic centralised aircraft monitoring messages in the cockpit relating to some irregularity with the aircraft's elevator control system. The…

The ATSB has found that a collision between The Ghan passenger train and a loaded sewage truck occurred when the driver of the truck drove into the path of the train at a private road level crossing at 'Murrow Farm' near Two Wells in SA. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau has today released its final investigation report into the collision which occurred on 6 August 2007 seriously injuring the truck driver. At the time of the accident road traffic at the level crossing was controlled by 'Stop' signs. The ATSB found that the truck driver did not stop and did not see the train until he was…

A media conference discussing the progress of the investigation into the circumstances surrounding the mid-air single fatality accident on 27 August 2008 will be held tomorrow, Thursday 28 August 2008. Where: 47 Silver Street, (crn Lorna and Silver Streets) Cheltenham, Victoria Time: 10:30 am (local time) Mr Mike Watson, Investigator in Charge (IIC) will discuss factual information known to the investigation team at this time and will outline the investigation process. Any person/witness with information about the accident is encouraged to contact the ATSB on 1800 020 616. No further media…

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has been notified of an incident involving a Qantas Airbus A330 aircraft on a flight from Singapore to Perth. While cruising in level flight, the aircraft experienced a sudden in-flight upset, resulting in injuries to a number of cabin crew and passengers, primarily in the rear of the aircraft. The crew declared a MAYDAY and diverted the aircraft to Learmonth, near Exmouth in WA, where it landed without further incident. Early reports indicate that three cabin crew and approximately 30 passengers sustained injuries, including about 15 with serious…

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau investigation is progressing. The aircraft's Flight Data Recorder (FDR) and Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) arrived in Canberra late on Wednesday evening. Downloading and preliminary analysis overnight has revealed good data from both recorders. Data from the FDR has been provided to Qantas, the French Bureau d'Enqu'tes et d'Analyses (BEA) and Airbus as parties to the investigation. While the full interpretation and analysis of the recorded data will take some time, preliminary review of the data indicates that after the aircraft climbed about 200 feet from…

Speech delivered at Airservices Australia Major Industry Consultation Forum on Wednesday, 25 June 2008, by Mr Kym Bills, Executive Director, Australian Transport Safety Bureau.

Speech delivered at 'SIA Visions Conference 2008' on Wednesday, 12 November 2008, by Mr Kym Bills, FSIA, Executive Director, Australian Transport Safety Bureau.

Speech delivered at the Safety in Action Conference 2008 on Tuesday, 29 April 2008, by Mr Kym Bills, Executive Director, Australian Transport Safety Bureau.