A QantasLink flight from Adelaide to Port Lincoln was forced to return twice on January 18, delaying passengers by six hours after a bird strike and a generator failure.
At a Glance
- A Dash 8 hit a bird shortly after take-off, forcing the first return
- Engineers cleared the plane, but a generator warning triggered a second turn-back
- Passengers swapped aircraft and landed at 2:50 p.m., six hours late
- Why it matters: The double disruption highlights how even minor wildlife contact can cascade into lengthy delays
The QantasLink Dash 8 departed Adelaide around 8:00 a.m. and crossed Spencer Gulf before the crew reported striking a bird. Flight 2581 landed back in Adelaide almost one hour later.
“People just couldn’t believe it,” passenger Barry Stribling told 7News. “They’d struck a bird in Port Lincoln-there was no mechanical service-so they had to come back to Adelaide.”
Engineers inspected the aircraft, found no damage, and released it for a second departure. About an hour on the ground passed before the plane lifted off again.
Minutes into the retry, a cockpit warning light illuminated. Sources told News Of Los Angeles the indication showed a generator had failed. The crew opted to return once more, marking the second aborted flight within one morning.
“It reminded me of a Seinfeld episode,” Stribling told 9News. “The second time the pilot actually came out and, as we were all walking out, each individual person he apologized and said he was sorry.”
Passenger Imogen Evans was traveling to emcee a wedding. “So sorry Mads, sorry Jordan-I’ll be there as soon as I can,” she told 7News. “I think I’ll be there in time for my stuff, but I’m devastated to miss the ceremony; it’s two of my best friends.”
After the second return, Qantas transferred passengers to a replacement aircraft. The new flight departed at 2:00 p.m. and touched down in Port Lincoln at 2:50 p.m., shrinking the remaining celebration time for travelers like Evans.
Qantas stated the generator fault was unrelated to the earlier bird strike. “We appreciate the patience and understanding from our customers and apologize for the delay,” the carrier said.
Ethan R. Coleman reported that representatives for Qantas and Adelaide Airport did not provide additional comment to News Of Los Angeles before publication.
Key Takeaways
- Bird strikes remain a common cause of precautionary returns in Australian regional aviation
- A single warning light can mandate a go-back under safety protocols, even after prior clearance
- Passengers on rural routes may face limited alternative transport, amplifying the impact of aircraft swaps
