Two Qantas jumbo jets - including the plane involved in
the Manila mid-air explosion last July - have collided while being
towed at Avalon.
"Two 747s at our Avalon maintenance base have come into contact
with each other during towing this morning," a Qantas spokesman
said.
"Both aircraft sustained some damage, the extent of that is
still being assessed."
The spokesman confirmed one of the planes was the aircraft that
was forced to make an emergency landing earlier this year when its
oxygen tank exploded mid-air, blowing a hole in the plane's
fuselage.
Repairs to the aircraft involved in the July incident were
undertaken in Manila by Boeing, but further work was being done at
Avalon.
The plane has not carried passengers since the emergency landing
four months ago.
Staff involved in this morning's collision, which occurred about
9.30am, have been stood down pending a full investigation, a Qantas
spokesman said.
He said it was too early to determine the cause of the
crash.
The airline believes both 747s will be out of action for at
least a few days.
http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2008/11/18/1226770427139.html
