Virgin Australia F100 enroute on Dec 27th 2021, cabin and flight crew unwell in flight, possibly hypoxia
Last Update: April 13, 2022 / 14:26:56 GMT/Zulu time
Incident Facts
Date of incident
Dec 27, 2021
Classification
Accident
Airline
Virgin Australia
Flight number
VA-1896
Departure
Newman, Australia
Destination
Perth, Australia
Aircraft Registration
VH-FNU
Aircraft Type
Fokker 100
ICAO Type Designator
F100
The aircraft remained on the ground for 3 days and 16 hours.
The ATSB opened an investigation expected to conclude in Q3/2022 into the occurrence.
On Apr 13th 2022 the ATSB reported they aborted the investigation. The ATSB reasoned:
- The normal cabin altitude for the Fokker F100 at FL350 is 8,000 ft.
- The flight crew recalled that the cabin altitude reached about 8,300 ft.
- The excessive cabin altitude warning (which activates at 10,000 ft) did not activate during the flight.
- The drop-down cabin oxygen masks automatically deploy at a cabin altitude of 13,500 ft on the Fokker F100 aircraft. The masks did not automatically deploy and were manually deployed by the flight crew.
Inspections and tests were conducted in accordance with the aircraft maintenance manual and in consultation with the aircraft manufacturer. Although there were defects identified, none were considered contributory to a depressurisation event or to the symptoms and subsequent incapacitation reported by the crew members. Several components were changed as a precaution.
The available evidence indicates that the aircraft’s cabin altitude remained below 10,000 ft. The reasons for the cabin crew and flight crew symptoms could not be established.
The decision by the flight crew to don oxygen masks and descend to a safe altitude was sound. If there is any doubt as to whether the flight crew’s ability to operate the aircraft may be affected by a possible oxygen supply problem, the safest course of action is to go onto oxygen as soon as possible.
Aircraft Registration Data
Incident Facts
Date of incident
Dec 27, 2021
Classification
Accident
Airline
Virgin Australia
Flight number
VA-1896
Departure
Newman, Australia
Destination
Perth, Australia
Aircraft Registration
VH-FNU
Aircraft Type
Fokker 100
ICAO Type Designator
F100
This article is published under license from Avherald.com. © of text by Avherald.com.
Article source
You can read 2 more free articles without a subscription.
Subscribe now and continue reading without any limits!
Read unlimited articles and receive our daily update briefing. Gain better insights into what is happening in commercial aviation safety.
Send tip
Support AeroInside by sending a small tip amount.
Related articles
Fleet type match
VARA F100 at Perth on Nov 10th 2022, flaps problem
A VARA Virgin Australia Regional Airlines Fokker 100, registration VH-FNU performing flight VA-9081 from Perth,WA to Boolgeeda,WA (Australia) with 95…
Virgin Australia B738 at Sydney on Mar 10th 2023, hard touch down at 3G
A Virgin Australia Boeing 737-800, registration VH-YQR performing flight VA-916 from Brisbane,QL to Sydney,NS (Australia), landed on Sydney's runway…
Virgin Australia B738 at Cairns on Oct 24th 2022, descended below minimum safe height
A Virgin Australia Boeing 737-800, registration VH-VUT performing flight VA-793 from Brisbane,QL to Cairns,QL (Australia), was on a RNAV HENDY 8A…
Fleet type match
Virgin Australia B738 at Perth on Jan 11th 2023, flaps problem
A Virgin Australia Boeing 737-800, registration VH-YIQ performing flight VA-469 from Perth,WA to Brisbane,QL (Australia), was climbing out of Perth's…
Fleet type match
Virgin Australia B738 at Coolangatta and Sydney on Apr 27th 2022, control problems
A Virgin Australia Boeing 737-800, registration VH-YFZ performing flight VA-504 from Coolangatta,QL to Sydney,NS (Australia), departed Coolangatta's…
Fleet type match
Virgin Australia B738 at Brisbane on Nov 30th 2022, overran runway on takeoff and became airborne
A Virgin Australia Boeing 737-800, registration VH-YFH performing flight VA-324 from Brisbane,QL to Melbourne,VI (Australia), was accelerating for…
Newest articles
Fleet type match
Jetstar A320 at Adelaide on Mar 24th 2023, hydraulic problem
A Jetstar Airbus A320-200, registration VH-VGU performing flight JQ-681 from Adelaide,SA to Hobart,TA (Australia), was enroute at FL350 about 170nm…
Fleet type match
Hifly A333 over Nigeria on Mar 23rd 2023, severe turbulence causes 10 injuries
A Hifly Airbus A330-300 on behalf of TAAG Angola Airlines, registration 9H-HFA performing flight DT-652 from Luanda (Angola) to Lisbon (Portugal),…
Subscribe today
Are you researching aviation incidents? Get access to AeroInside Insights, unlimited read access and receive the daily newsletter.
Pick your plan and subscribePartner
A new way to document and demonstrate airworthiness compliance and aircraft value. Find out more.
ELITE Simulation Solutions is a leading global provider of Flight Simulation Training Devices, IFR training software as well as flight controls and related services. Find out more.
AeroInside Blog
Popular aircraft
Airbus A320Boeing 737-800
Boeing 737-800 MAX
Popular airlines
American AirlinesUnited
Delta
Air Canada
Lufthansa
British Airways