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Title: Qantas Blame Jet Drama on Mechanical Failure

Source: AAP | Published: Monday April 24, 5:19 PM

Qantas says mechanical failure rather than pilot error was responsible for a mishap in which the undercarriage of a Qantas jumbo jet collapsed at Rome airport on Saturday.

Qantas executive general manager of aircraft operations David Forsyth says the accident appears to be caused by stress on the landing gear as the fully laden Boeing 747-300 made a turn.

He says analysis of the fracture surface will be undertaken to determine whether the accident should be attributed to Qantas or Boeing.

The aircraft, QF 16 flying to Melbourne with 303 passengers and 19 crew, was taxiing at low speed when a component of the right hand undercarriage collapsed without warning shortly before take off.

No-one was injured and passengers returned to Australia last night on alternative flights.

Some have complained that they were left in the dark, saying until they took off on another flight, they didn't know what was happening.

http://www.theage.com.au/breaking/0004/24/A22054-2000Apr24.shtml

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-- (Dee360Degree@aol.com), April 24, 2000