Qantas Flight Makes Emergency Landing in Geraldton

On January 10, 2025, Qantas Flight QF 1613, a Fokker 100 aircraft, made an emergency landing at Geraldton Airport after detecting significant vibrations in its left engine approximately 45 minutes into its flight from Geraldton to Perth. The pilot activated emergency protocols, reducing altitude and maintaining a low-level flight path for about 20 minutes before landing safely at 10:30 AM, with no injuries reported among the 60 passengers. Passenger Loic Foison described the atmosphere on board as tense yet calm, noting the captain's effective communication during the incident. Qantas has rebooked affected passengers on evening flights to Perth, responding promptly to minimize disruptions. The aircraft, which is over 32 years old, has raised concerns about its maintenance and reliability amidst ongoing operational issues faced by the airline. Geraldton Airport's emergency services were fully prepared and executed their response plan effectively, according to airport officials.