Rusted Sky

'Big hole' in plane prompts Manila stop - News- msnbc.com

MANILA, Philippines - A Qantas flight en route to Australia from London made an emergency stop in Manila on Friday after a loud bang punched a hole in the Boeing 747-400’s fuselage, officials and passengers said.

There were no injuries, but some of the 350 passengers vomited after disembarking, said Manila International Airport Authority deputy manager for operations Octavio Lina.

Judging by the main picture - it looks like part of the fairing that blends the wing into the fuselage ripped away - possibly pushed by something from inside.

What I can see doesn't look like explosives damage - more likely metal fatigue and crack propagation. I think the fuselage behind the fairing cracked, split, and pushed an edge of the fairing out where the wind could take it.

Then *BANG* - you've got a real problem.

This is why airlines are so hot on maintenace. It's a long way down - and you can't pull over and stop to see what's wrong in-flight.

j.