Qantas launches investigation into overloaded Sydney flight

Qantas has launched an investigation into how one of its planes was overloaded with freight on a flight from Sydney to Lord Howe Island, putting it over its allowable take-off weight. A Dash-8 aircraft flown by regional subsidiary QantasLink was carrying about 32 passengers on flight QF2262 from Sydney to Lord Howe Island on Wednesday morning, and was meant to carry no more than about 20 kilograms of freight. However, staff were shocked to discover that a larger amount of freight than expected had been loaded into the rear hold of the plane, resulting in it breaching its maximum take-off weight by about 160 kilograms when it departed Sydney Airport. Qantas confirmed that it was investigating how freight was “incorrectly loaded” onto the Dash-8, which has since been cleared to re-enter service. “The flight operated normally and landed safely and without incident,” it said, adding that the safety of the flight was not compromised. Mick Quinn, a former head of safety at Emirates and an ex-manager of air-safety investigation at Qantas, said overloading or incorrect loading of cargo in the wrong positions affects an aircraft’s centre of gravity and raised the risk of flight control difficulties.<br/>