A Jetstar flight, JQ739, bound from Melbourne to Launceston, experienced an emergency halt on the runway prior to takeoff on Saturday, after it was discovered that a hatch was inadvertently left open.
The incident, which led to the aircraft overshooting the runway, occurred when the pilot aborted the takeoff sequence and applied brakes abruptly upon receiving a notification from air traffic control regarding the open latch.
The concern arose from a small communications panel, situated beneath the aircraft near the landing gear, which had remained unsecured. This panel is typically accessed by ground crew through the use of headsets for communication purposes.
Safety Not Compromised, Assures Airline After Hatch Incident
Passengers aboard the flight recounted the sudden stop. “We were just running down the runway in Melbourne to take off and the pilot literally hit the brakes because apparently air traffic control had told them there was a door open on the plane when they were trying to take off,” one passenger reported to the Herald Sun.
Another passenger shared a similar account, noting, “We wanted to go for it on the runway, but we had to make an emergency stop. They hit the brakes. Someone from the tower said the door was open.”
Jetstar officials confirmed the incident, clarifying that the Airbus A320 was at a low speed when the takeoff was halted by the captain. “The captain stopped taking off at low speed because a small hatch of 10 x 20 cm at the front of the aircraft was open,” said a spokesperson for the airline.
They further reassured that the “open hatch does not affect the safety of the aircraft during flight,” and the flight successfully departed shortly after the issue was resolved, arriving in Launceston without further incident.
Melbourne Airport authorities also commented on the situation, stating, “After taxiing to the runway, flight JQ739 aborted take-off and returned to the gate this afternoon due to a technical issue.”
They highlighted that the delay caused by the technical glitch was approximately one and a half hours, with the aircraft safely taking off at 4.41 pm.