More than 240 travellers hoping to be home for Christmas had their plans thrown into disarray when their Qantas flight back to Australia was unexpectedly rerouted overnight.
Flight Forced to Change Course
Qantas flight QF36, which departed from Singapore at approximately 7:30 PM on Tuesday night, was supposed to land in Melbourne around 6:15 AM on Wednesday, Christmas Eve. Instead, the aircraft was diverted to Adelaide, touching down there at about 5:00 AM.
Data from the flight tracking service Flightradar24 shows the aircraft entered a holding pattern and circled for a period before finally landing at Adelaide Airport. A spokesperson for Qantas confirmed the diversion was necessary due to a technical issue, but was keen to stress this was not classified as an emergency or priority landing.
Passenger Frustration on Christmas Eve
The sudden change left passengers, some of whom were reportedly travelling from London to attend the iconic Boxing Day Test cricket match in Melbourne, frustrated and scrambling. They were provided with alternative flights to Melbourne on Wednesday morning.
Speaking to the Sunrise program, passengers shared their mixed reactions. One described the experience as "frustrating and irritating," noting they were only informed about the diversion roughly 30 minutes before landing in Adelaide. Another adopted a more philosophical view, stating, "Frustrating, but I'll get home in time for Christmas, so no complaints."
"We're very sorry for any inconvenience caused, particularly at this time of year," the Qantas spokesperson said. "However, safety is our number one priority and we thank passengers for their patience and understanding."
Aircraft Under Inspection
The aircraft involved is now scheduled to undergo a thorough inspection by Qantas engineers in Adelaide before it is cleared to return to service. The airline's response highlights the delicate balance between operational safety and minimising disruption during one of the busiest travel periods of the year.
This incident serves as a stark reminder of the potential for last-minute travel chaos, even on major airlines, during the festive season. For the 240-plus passengers, their Christmas Eve became an unexpected detour via South Australia.
