February 16, 2025
Manila-Bound Qantas A330 Diverts to Cairns Due to Fumes in the Cabin

Manila-Bound Qantas A330 Diverts to Cairns Due to Fumes in the Cabin

A Qantas A330-200 enroute from Sydney to Manila diverted to Cairns after reporting fumes in the rear of the passenger cabin on 19 January.
Mitchul Hope, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

A Qantas Airbus A330-200 operating a flight from Sydney to Manila diverted to Cairns after reporting fumes in the passenger cabin on 19 January 2025.

Qantas flight QF19 had conducted a departure from Sydney Kingsford Smith International Airport (SYD). The flight was a scheduled service to Manila Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL).

Qantas QF19 Sydney-Manila


Flight track of Qantas QF19 Sydney to Manila, showing diversion to Cairns.

Whilst in cruising flight passing through Queensland airspace, flight crew reported the detection of fumes in the rear of the passenger cabin.

According to the Aviation Herald, one passenger reported that several passengers and cabin crew members felt ill as a result. Some complained of headaches, arising from the strong fumes emanating from the rear of the aircraft cabin.

Flight track of Qantas QF19 Sydney to Manila, showing diversion to Cairns.

Flight crew elected to make a diversion to nearby Cairns as a result. The flight subsequently landed on runway 33 Cairns International Airport (CNS).

The landing was made approximately one hour after the diversion was initiated.

Flight Details


Flight data shows that Qantas flight QF19 had made an on-time departure from Sydney Kingsford Smith International Airport at 1219 local time on 19 January.

The flight had then set course normally, climbing to flight level FL380 for the northerly service to the Philippines. The flight was at cruising level, approximately 300 nautical miles to the northwest of Cairns when the diversion was made.

A Qantas A330 approaching to land.
Mitchul Hope, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The aircraft conducting the QF19 service to manila was an Airbus A320-200, registered VH-EBK. This is a 16.6 year old widebody aircraft belonging to the national carrier Qantas.

It has been in operational service with the airline since its initial delivery from the factory in August 2008. The aircraft bears the airline name ‘Savannah Way’.

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