Investigators have described an incident that forced an incapacitated Qantas captain to hand control of the aircraft to the first officer as they landed in Hobart as a “serious” one.
Flight QF1541, operated by National Jet Systems for QantasLink, was approaching Hobart from Sydney on 6 June, 2023, with 5 crew and 54 passengers on board when the pilots smelled a “chlorine odour” from their air vents.
The captain, subsequently feeling unwell and unfit to continue flying, handed over duties to the first officer, who also began to experience similar symptoms.
Both pilots later described the symptoms as fogginess of thought, confusion, deteriorating situational awareness, weakness and tingling in the arms and legs and narrowing of vision.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau’s (ATSB) final report notes that the odour had previously been detected in the forward galley as the plane was climbing out of Sydney, causing similar symptoms in two cabin crew members.
The ATSB said the pilots considered using supplemental oxygen through a mask before landing in Hobart, but did not.
After landing safely, the captain was hospitalised for testing.
ATSB Chief Commissioner Angus Mitchell said the incident was a reminder to pilots to “be alert to the potential hazard posed by odours and fumes”, adding they should “not hesitate” to use supplemental oxygen.
“The use of oxygen is a proven mitigating action in the case of environmental hazards and its rapid use ensures flight crews’ physical and mental capacity is maintained,” he said.
National Jet Systems has since updated its training on fume detection and emergency oxygen use.
