The Qantas A380 that returned to service after its engine exploded in 2010 looks set to fly again after it left the desert boneyard where it was being stored during COVID-19.
Australian Aviation’s Andrew Campbell shot this exclusive image of the legendary VH-OQA at Qantas’ maintenance hangar at LAX where it’s set to have its cabin upgraded before returning to active operations.
It follows speculation from readers it would be one of the two A380s that Qantas has designated for decommissioning from its original fleet of 12.
VH-OQA was involved in arguably Australian Aviation’s most serious-ever safety incident in November 2010 when its Rolls-Royce Trent 900 engine exploded shortly after it took off, causing a major fire.
Despite significant structural and systems damage, Captain de Crespigny and his colleagues in the flight deck — Qantas’ first A380 and named after Australian aviation legend Nancy-Bird Walton — managed to return to Singapore Changi Airport for a safe landing.
No passengers or crew were injured.
The double-decker superjumbo underwent significant repairs that took 16 months to complete and cost $139 million before it eventually returned to service in April 2012.
Investigators found the failure was due to a fatigue crack in an oil feed-pipe in the number two engine of the aircraft. This led to an internal oil leak and fire, with the turbine disc eventually bursting through the engine casing.
Now the iconic aircraft looks likely to cheat its demise yet again and return to flying for the national carrier.
Alongside this image, Flightradar has recorded how VH-OQA, departed Victorville on 24 September as flight QF6023 at 4:31 pm and landed at LAX at 5:11pm.
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After it returns, it will join VH-OQB, VH-OQD, VH-OQH, VH-OQK back in active operations, with VH-OQJ set to come back soon.
So far, VH-OQF has already been dismantled, with speculation that it will be joined on the scrapheap by VH-OQE.
Australian Aviation reported last year how de hero captain Crespigny quietly retired during COVID-19.
He said he took the decision to end his 45-year career after being “stood down and in limbo” following the airline’s decision to stop flying internationally and store its A380s in the Victorville desert boneyard.
Captain de Crespigny was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia after returning the stricken plane to Singapore Changi Airport and helping to save the lives of 440 passengers and 29 crew members on board almost exactly 10 years ago.
Speaking to Traveller, Captain de Crespigny said, “COVID-19 has terminated my 45-year professional flying career.
“I loved flying the remarkable A380 and walking the aisles, meeting the passionate passengers who loved and supported us.
“I’ll miss the teams in the cockpit and cabin that together solved problems from bad weather and aircraft failures through to helping passengers in physical and emotional distress.
“I think the current situation will not improve until borders open, a vaccine is developed permitting high-density seating, and the public’s trust in their destinations are restored.”
