10 | April• 2018
MY STORY
A few hours later the passengers
departed in a replacement airliner,
with one exception, a senior
Melbourne media executive who
chose to remain in the bar.
he explanation was circulated to
the media and resultant coverage was
accurate and favourable.
Later, a local resident phoned
the airline to complain that engine
oil had soiled the
washing in his backyard
and he demanded
compensation. An
Ansett-ANA engineer
inspected the scene
and found that the
well-worn linen showed
traces of engine oil
from the man’s own
old Holden car. he
owner was told that if he
complained further, the
next visitors could be police oicers.
After the tension and excitement
had died down, I returned to my oice
to resume the work I had abandoned.
What had I been doing when I was
interrupted? Ah, yes.Preparing
material on the introduction of jet
airliners – which fortunately do not
have propellers!Captain Keith Hants was awarded the
Queen’s Commendation for Valuable
Service in the Air in recognition of
his flying abilities under extreme
conditions. If not for his skill, more
than 60 people could have lost their
lives that day.airliner lost valuable height that could
not be regained. he airliner could
only make one last attempt. It worked
and the engine dropped into Port
Phillip Bay. After a tense 94 minutes
in the air, the airliner made a perfect
landing back at Essendon Airport.
here was also drama in the
airliner’s cabin. he passengers had
been through turmoil. hose sitting
near the wings were
alarmed when oil from
ruptured lines sprayed
along the fuselage
and windows. Two air
hostesses had been
thrown around as they
tried to demonstrate
the ditching procedure
to passengers. One
passenger began writing
his will, while a second
requested that his
meal be served and that the bar be
opened.
Public relations activity hit top gear.
Passengers were welcomed into the
airport and complimentary drinks
arranged in the passenger terminal.
I met with the two pilots and the
light engineer, established the facts
and helped them prepare for the
range of questions they would be
asked by the media. Previously I
had obtained from the airline the
backgrounds of the crew, as well as
the maintenance and overhaul history
of the airliner.
he trio gave excellent interviews.
There was
also drama
in the airliner’s
cabin. The
passengers had
been through
turmoil