28 Apr 202514:55 reconstruction57K views

Qantas Captain Battles Solo after First Officer Collapse (2018)

Qantas freight flight QF7335 was cruising northwest of Canberra in August 2018 when the crew received a wing-body overheat warning and a resulting cabin-pressure reduction. Both pilots donned oxygen masks and the aircraft began an emergency descent. During that descent, the captain was briefly incapacitated after a surge of oxygen from his own mask; once he recovered, the first officer began showing incapacitating symptoms of his own, leaving the captain — now the only functioning pilot — to continue the flight, divert to Canberra and coordinate the emergency response while also preparing to land.

Accident Facts

Date: 15 August 2018
Registration: VH-XMO

Timeline

15 August 2018 —

Express Freighters Australia Boeing 737-300 VH-XMO operated QF7335 from Brisbane to Melbourne.

At about FL260, roughly 110 NM northwest of Canberra —

The crew received a wing-body overheat warning followed by a reduction in cabin pressure.

During the emergency descent —

Both pilots donned oxygen masks and the aircraft descended to FL200.

During the initial descent —

The captain, who had selected the emergency flow setting while adjusting his oxygen mask, was temporarily incapacitated by the resulting surge of oxygen.

After the captain recovered —

The first officer began experiencing incapacitating symptoms consistent with hyperventilation and declared a MAYDAY.

Afterward —

The captain descended to 8,000 feet and advised ATC that the aircraft was diverting to Canberra.

Approaching Canberra —

The captain requested emergency services, an ambulance and stairs for medical access.

Final approach —

The captain reported that the first officer remained unconscious.

Landing —

QF7335 landed on Runway 35 without further incident and the first officer was taken to hospital.

The pressure problem came first

The source describes a wing-body overheat warning followed by a reduction in cabin pressure. The crew responded with oxygen masks and a descent. The first officer’s incapacitation occurred during that emergency sequence, adding a second operational problem to the aircraft.

Both pilots were incapacitated, not just one

This was in fact a double incapacitation, not a single one. During the initial emergency descent, the captain briefly lost function after selecting the oxygen mask's emergency flow setting, which delivered a surge of oxygen; he recovered within the descent. Once he had, the first officer began showing symptoms consistent with hyperventilation and became incapacitated in turn, prompting the first officer's MAYDAY call. From that point, the captain — now recovered — managed the aircraft alone, communicated with ATC, and arranged the diversion to Canberra.

The aircraft landed normally

The source states that the aircraft landed on Runway 35 without further incident. The first officer was taken to hospital. No unsupported diagnosis is assigned to the incapacitation because the available incident record does not establish one.

Conclusion

The event combined an aircraft-system warning, a cabin-pressure problem and pilot incapacitation. The captain continued the flight alone after the first officer became unconscious, diverted to Canberra and coordinated the medical response before landing. The available record supports that sequence and outcome without establishing a more specific medical cause.

Sources

Video source (ATC/audio reconstruction)

Audio from the original air traffic control recording, sourced from public recordings and released investigation records. The reconstruction, animation and written account are our own.