Airlines

American Airlines Flight Plummets 15,000 Feet in 3 Minutes Amidst Potential Pressurization Problem

An American Airlines airplane headed for Florida descended nearly 15,000 feet in three minutes. The flight crew reported a “pressurization issue” after the plane took off from Charlotte, North Carolina, and was headed to Gainesville, Florida.

The crew of the aircraft, however, informed the Federal Aviation Administration of a probable pressurization problem while the flight was in progress.

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Harrison Hove, a passenger, posted an image of himself using an oxygen mask on X (previously Twitter) and described the experience as “terrifying” and “scary.

I’ve flown a lot. This was scary. Kudos to our amazing flight crew- cabin staff and pilots on @AmericanAir 5916. The photos cannot capture the burning smell, loud bang or ear pops. Good to be on the ground. #AA5916 #CLT #GNV pic.twitter.com/P8pPrvOQDQ— Harrison Hove (@HarrisonHove) August 10, 2023

An American Airlines spokesperson explained the unexpected decrease in altitude as being caused by a pressurisation problem in a statement.

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On Thursday, August 10, “American Eagle flight 5916, operated by Piedmont Airlines, from Charlotte to Gainesville, Florida, landed safely. The crew discovered a possible pressurization problem while in flight, and they swiftly and safely lowered the aircraft to a lower altitude. The spokesperson stated, “We apologize to our customers for any inconvenience and thanks our staff members for their professionalism.

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Airlines

Federal Court Imposes $100M Fine on Qantas for “Ghost Flights” Scandal

In a major ruling, the Federal Court has confirmed a hefty A$100 million penalty against Qantas for its involvement in the “ghost flights” scandal. As reported by FlightGlobal.

The court found that Qantas misled consumers by offering and selling tickets for flights that the airline had already decided to cancel. Adding to the controversy, Qantas failed to promptly notify ticket holders about these cancellations.

The penalty follows Qantas’ admission of violating the Australian Consumer Law (ACL). The airline agreed with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) on the penalty amount, aiming to deter Qantas and other businesses from similar breaches in the future.

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The ACCC emphasized that this substantial fine sends a clear message: misleading customers will lead to serious consequences, regardless of a company’s size. In addition to the penalty, Qantas has committed to paying approximately A$20 million to affected passengers who unknowingly purchased tickets for canceled flights.

This compensation comes on top of any refunds or alternative flight arrangements already provided. ACCC Chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb praised the penalty, underscoring the importance of robust compliance programs red energy qantas in large corporations like Qantas.

She pointed out that Qantas has since made changes to its operating and scheduling procedures to prevent similar issues in the future.