A Qantas flight from Auckland to Sydney issued a mayday 7700 distress call on Wednesday after an engine malfunction, prompting a large emergency response at Sydney International Airport. The Boeing 737-800, carrying 168 passengers, landed safely just before 3.30pm local time.
The pilot declared the emergency halfway through the three-hour journey when one of the twin engines failed. The aircraft descended to 20,000 feet, well below its planned altitude of 38,000 feet, but continued to Sydney without further incident.
Aviation expert Neil Hansford explained that a mayday call indicates the aircraft is in serious or imminent danger requiring immediate assistance. Once issued, air traffic controllers alert emergency services and assist pilots. The squawk code 7700 is used to identify the aircraft as experiencing an emergency on radar screens.
After landing, Qantas downgraded the mayday to a PAN, meaning 'possible assistance needed'. More than 100,000 people tracked the flight on FlightRadar24 as it approached Sydney. Qantas is regarded as one of the world's safest airlines, with no fatal crashes in over 70 years.
