Adelaide, February 1 - A Qantas Boeing 737 operating flight QF691 from Melbourne to Adelaide was forced to divert to the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Base Edinburgh on Thursday evening due to severe weather conditions preventing a safe landing at Adelaide Airport. The domestic service, which departed Melbourne shortly after 5:00 pm, encountered extreme winds during its final approach, with gusts reaching up to 72 km/h near the airport. These powerful and shifting winds made runway operations untenable, prompting the flight crew to abort the landing attempt and reroute to the nearby military facility located approximately 25 kilometers north of Adelaide. This diversion highlights the critical role of alternate airfields in ensuring passenger safety amid unpredictable Australian weather events.
RAAF Base Edinburgh, primarily a defense installation, features a runway capable of accommodating commercial aircraft in emergency situations, making it a viable option for such diversions. The decision to land there rather than enter a prolonged holding pattern allowed the aircraft to refuel safely while conditions at Adelaide Airport remained hazardous. Aviation authorities and airline protocols prioritize safety in these scenarios, where crosswinds and gusts can exceed aircraft limitations for stable approaches. The incident occurred during a period of widespread adverse weather across South Australia, contributing to challenging conditions for air travel in the region.
Passengers aboard the Qantas flight experienced a turbulent descent before the diversion, but the aircraft landed without incident at the RAAF base. After refueling and awaiting improved weather, the plane eventually departed Edinburgh and arrived safely at Adelaide Airport later that evening, around 8:10 pm. This unusual event underscores the professionalism of Qantas pilots in managing high-stress situations and the importance of robust contingency planning in commercial aviation. Such diversions to military airfields, while rare for civilian flights, demonstrate effective coordination between civil and defense infrastructure.
The episode serves as a reminder of the inherent challenges in aviation, particularly in areas prone to sudden wind changes and storms. Qantas confirmed the diversion was due solely to adverse weather on approach, with no mechanical issues reported. Travelers heading to or from Adelaide should monitor forecasts closely during volatile weather periods to anticipate potential disruptions. This Qantas diversion to RAAF Base Edinburgh remains a notable example of prioritizing safety over schedule in modern air travel operations.