Ever got on a plane with an electronic device (and we don’t mean a bomb!)? It’s tempting isn’t it? The signs say switch them off, the announcement says switch them off, but it’s just so easy to forget or disregard.
In Australia, however, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau is investigating a plane incident where the pilots lost control – allegedly due to a passenger’s electronic device…
On Thursday 9th of October 2008 Flight QF72 from Singapore lost control at 237,000 feet and pilots were forced to call a Mayday and crash land. A “series of violent manoeuvres” seriously injured 12 people and caused a need for medical aid for a further 30 people.
Initial data study shows that as the aircraft left its cruising height of 37,000 feet, it climbed 200 feet then nosedived about 650 feet in 20 seconds (guaranteed to penetrate even the most engrossed gamer’s attention). It then fortunately returned to cruising level, before again dropping steeply – this time 400 feet in 16 seconds, before returning to cruising level.
Investigators are investigating (as they do) and discussing with the plane’s manufacturers, Airbus. The Melbourne Herald Sun was allegedly told by an investigator that handheld devices were a potential cause. “Certainly in our discussions with passengers that is exactly the sort of question we will be asking: ‘Were you using a computer?’,” said an ATSB spokesman.
Legally, computers and mobile phones cannot be operated until the aircraft has reached at least 3,000 feet. Theoretically, at least, a laptop computer or mobile phone could have caused Qantas QF72 to be affected.
But since then the press is now reporting that the fault was due to the aircrafts control software, but the investigations continue. So best switch off every time you fly, just in case! The signs and announcements aren’t made for fun, they actually do have some theoretical scientific reason.
