VintageKrug - 02/11/2011 20:58 GMT
A worrying development in the Qantas saga:
THE Australian Federal Police are investigating an alleged attempt to sabotage an aircraft undergoing maintenance at Brisbane Airport.
Qantas referred the matter to the AFP for investigation after learning of the "alleged interference" to the wiring of a Boeing 767 aircraft.
http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/newshome/11243718/feds-probe-claims-wires-cut-on-qantas-767/
If proven to be deliberate act in connection with the strikes, it's hugely concerning.
This sort of activity, as well the death threats received by senior Qantas management, expose the darker side of Union activity.
Binman62 - 02/11/2011 22:45 GMT
Very worrying and if shown to be sabotage then it would need to dealt with appropriately.
RichHI1 - 03/11/2011 12:41 GMT
This sort of activity needs to be stamped out by the appropriate authorities taking very severe action.
As regards the comment about "darker side of Union activity", is there an evidentiary basis to this or is it merely the product of the darker side of a poster's mind?
VintageKrug - 03/11/2011 13:04 GMT
It's under investigation by the Police.
As are the death threats.
Hold on a moment.
"Steve Purvinas from the Australian Licensed Aircraft Engineers Association said there was no suggestion any of their members were responsible.
"We're very comfortable with what the AFP are doing and we're happy it's been referred to the federal police rather than a Qantas internal investigation," Mr Purvinas said.
"We believe that inevitably they'll find it was a manufacturing fault because they were new wires that were found broken."
Sabotage is by no means certain and even if it is found to be the case, apportioning it to the union, without firm evidence, is libelous.
RichHI1 - 03/11/2011 13:15 GMT
And whilst posters are entitled to post in anonymity, the organizers of this website would be duty bound to provide the courts with the identities of any libelous posters.
HonestCrew - 03/11/2011 17:30 GMT
Airlines are acutely aware that the 'next big thing' in airline terrorism could be caused by sabotage or an 'inside job'.
Just look at the case of the BA call centre worker who volunteered to train as cabin crew during the times of trouble and turned out to be linked with an Islamic terror group.
There may very well be sleepers who joined airlines many years ago, popular members of staff who are gaining trust whilst waiting for 'the call'.
Mix that with the fact that at LHR in particular the vast majority of cleaners, catering, security staff are from the ethnic group who pose the greatest risk, the worries are understandable.
Of course, this Qantas case could be just a idiot engineer. Stupidity is not determinable by ethnicity.
HonestCrew, may I ask which ethnic group poses the greatest risk and your evidence base for this statement?
RichHI1 - 03/11/2011 19:48 GMT
I am told the UK employs ethnic profiling in airport security so it would be interesting if any posters had any facts on this and the precise ethincities that are targeted. I suppose it would be logical to start with those that have carried out or attempted to carry out attacks in the past and those that espouse or actively support terrorist activity.
I was wondering about this remark on ethnicity!
Remember the Japanese Red Army took the Israeli airport security by surprise with their terrorist attack on 30 May 1972!!!!!!
RichHI1 - 03/11/2011 20:13 GMT
Who expected a Norwegian terrorist?
HonestCrew - 03/11/2011 20:40 GMT
Come on fellas, let's not beat around the bush here. The clear winner in the threat to UK and aviation in the western world is from Islamic militant groups and you know it.
Look at the London 7/7 bombers. The leader was a well respected man who worked with youngsters. The guy that drove the land rover into Glasgow airport and set himself on fire was a GP. The shoe-bomber, the underwear bomber, the liquid in hand luggage plotters, 9/11, the printer cartridge bomb on cargo plane planters, the BA call centre guy..... shall I go on?
Face facts, this is where the major threat comes from, not exclusively them and in no way am I tarnishing everyone with the same brush, but proof is in the pudding.
Yes, background checks are done on all staff working at airports, but just because they have a clean past doesn't mean they don't harbour ambitions. Case proved with the Glasgow GP nutcase.
It's a touchy subject but one that needs to be dealt with head on.
I now know why you are called the HONESTCREW!!!
Having said that, there is some EVIDENCE in that but nothing is exclusive!
HonestCrew - 04/11/2011 06:23 GMT
Absolutely. As posted above, the Norwegian gunman, threats can come from many sources, just some more likely than others
Imagine if during the late 70's, with the IRA at their height, UK airports employed Irish men in their mid-twenties to provide passenger security and to 'detect terror threats'.
Food for thought.
RichHI1 - 04/11/2011 09:17 GMT
Judging by the BBC news fixation with Stephen Fry and his being on another faulty engined a380, it seems that Rolls Royce appear to continue to be a bigger issue for safety than wire cutters.
JordanD - 04/11/2011 13:59 GMT
If Fry hadn't been on the plane, it'd be just another in-flight shut down and the world would have continued to spin. I'm fairly sure it isn't only RR engines that need to be shut down in flight, on occasion.
RichHI1 - 04/11/2011 14:06 GMT
Yes I think the BBC is far more interested in one of their "stars" being on plane than issue of safety. I thought that following the $100 million payout by Rolls Royce and the redesign and the redesign following the BA 777 crash they had resolved their safety issues. Interesting to see what comes out.
