Qantas withdraws six B737-400s from operation as a result of paperwork “irregularity”

Hit by a number of accidents in quick succession, Australian flag carrier, Qantas, found its safety audit systems coming under doubt after it announced the withdrawal of six B737-400s from service. The withdrawals come even as the carrier cross-checks maintenance records relating to modification work carried out at one of its Australian facilities.

Qantas engineering executive GM, David Cox, emphasised that it was a procedural issue and that there were no safety implications. "Qantas discovered an irregularity with paperwork for these aircraft during an internal integrity check of maintenance records," he said. "In line with our prudent response to any maintenance issue, however minor, we have elected to suspend the operation of the six aircraft while we ensure all our records are 100 per cent accurate and we have advised the Civil Aviation Safety Authority."

Cox confirmed that staff "regularly check our records and detect a record-keeping anomaly on average once a year."

The withdrawals have resulted after Australia's aviation safety regulator has begun conducting a special audit after a series of safety-related incidents involving the carrier.