Latest news with #PulseTasmania
New York Post
3 days ago
- General
- New York Post
Fire breaks out mid-air and fills cabin with smoke on Virgin Australia flight
This is the horrifying moment a fire erupted mid-air on a Virgin Australia flight bound for Tasmania. Flight VA158, which departed from Sydney on Monday morning, had begun its descent into Hobart just after 9am when smoke began filling the cabin of the Boeing 737-8FE. Advertisement According to witnesses on board, the crew opened an overhead compartment and discovered a lithium battery engulfed in flames. Footage of the incident shows passengers scrambling to the back of the plane as a distressed flight attendant yells: 'All the way down to the back guys, keep moving, quicker.' 3 The crew opened an overhead compartment and discovered a lithium battery engulfed in flames. Pulse Tasmania Another clip shows passengers passing bottles of water to a crew member as they attempt to contain the blaze. Advertisement Witnesses reveal that cabin crew were eventually able to extinguish the fire successfully with water bottles after initial attempts with on-board fire extinguishes were unsuccessful. According to Pulse Tasmania, passengers described a moment of panic and were told not to film the incident by staff. Once the flight had safely landed in Hobart, Airservices Australia firefighters boarded the plane and removed the bag containing the battery. Advertisement Hobart Airport COO Matt Cocker told Pulse that one person had received medical attention by paramedics for suspected smoke inhalation. 3 Witnesses reveal that cabin crew were eventually able to extinguish the fire successfully. Helena Bilkova – 'The outbound Virgin flight back to Sydney is currently delayed, however all other operations at Hobart Airport are running as usual,' he said. In a statement to Virgin ensured flight and cabin crew were checked over by paramedics as a precaution and subsequently cleared. Advertisement 'VA1528 from Sydney to Hobart landed safely at Hobart Airport yesterday (Monday) following a fire in an overhead locker during descent. 'The fire was extinguished by Virgin Australia cabin crew prior to landing. Airservices Australia firefighters attended the aircraft once it landed and removed a bag from the overhead locker. All guests disembarked the aircraft, as per standard operating procedures. 3 Passengers were passing bottles of water to a crew member to try and extinguish the flames. Pulse Tasmania 'Safety is always our highest priority. We appreciate the swift and professional response of our flight and cabin crew, as well as the support of Airservices Australia firefighters,' they said. A replacement aircraft was sourced for the return flight for Sydney and Virgin's guest contact center is in the process of checking in with guests seated in the surrounding rows. The incident comes after a passenger plane in South Korea caught fire earlier this year, leaving three people with minor injuries. Local authorities believe a portable power bank likely caused the fire that destroyed the plane.
Sky News AU
4 days ago
- General
- Sky News AU
Horror as fire erupts on Sydney to Hobart Virgin Australia flight, causing major panic onboard with one passenger receiving medical attention
Passengers onboard a Virgin Australia plane from Sydney to Tasmania were temporarily thrown into panic after a fire broke out mid-flight. Flight VA1528 was beginning its descent into Hobart about 9am on Monday when the fire started in an overhead locker, filling the cabin with smoke. Passengers reported smelling the smoke ten minutes before the plane landed. Witnesses onboard told Pulse Tasmania flight crew opened an overhead compartment and discovered a lithium battery on fire inside a bag, while passengers described seeing flames leap out of the locker. Several passengers reportedly jumped out of their seats in panic as voices could be heard in recorded footage yelling: "All the way down the back, keep moving quicker." Flight attendants also instructed passengers not to film the fire as it unfolded, witnesses reported. Initial attempts at putting out the fire with onboard extinguishers were unsuccessful, the outlet reported. Cabin crew then doused the overhead compartment with water, eventually putting out the flames. Airport firefighters removed the smouldering battery from the Boeing 737-8FE cabin once the plane landed safely. Hobart Airport COO Matt Cocker said one person received medical treatment for suspected smoke inhalation. 'The outbound Virgin flight back to Sydney is currently delayed, however all other operations at Hobart Airport are running as usual,' he said. Paramedics also checked over flight and cabin crew as a precaution. 'Safety is always our highest priority. We appreciate the swift and professional response of our flight and cabin crew, as well as the support of Airservices Australia firefighters,' a Virgin Australia spokesperson said. No other flights at Hobart Airport were impacted by the fire, but the replacement aircraft for the return flight was delayed by five hours.
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- General
- Daily Mail
Terrifying moment fire erupts inside a plane cabin in mid-air as panicked passengers rush to help the flight crew
Passengers have been left terrified after a fire broke out in an overhead locker on a Virgin Australia flight landing in Tasmania. Flight VA1528, which departed Sydney this morning, had begun its descent into Hobart around 9am when smoke began filling the Boeing 737-8FE cabin. Witnesses believe a lithium battery in the overhead luggage compartment was to blame, although the airline has yet to confirm the cause of the fire. In shocking footage, smoke can be seen escaping from the overheard luggage compartment as the crew sprang into action. The crew opened the locker to discover a lithium battery on fire with passengers revealing they saw flames leap out of the compartment when it was opened. Initial attempts to control the flames with an onboard fire extinguisher were reportedly unsuccessful. Cabin crew eventually extinguished the fire with water. Passengers can be seen jumping out of the seats in the alarming footage, obtained by Pulse Tasmania, of the incident as the fire was discovered by the crew. Once the flight had landed in Hobart, airport firefighters boarded the plane and removed the bag containing the battery. Hobart Airport COO Matt Cocker said one person received medical attention by paramedics for suspected smoke inhalation. 'The outbound Virgin flight back to Sydney is currently delayed, however all other operations at Hobart Airport are running as usual,' he said. Virgin Australia confirmed flight and cabin crew were checked over by paramedics as a precaution before being given the all-clear. 'Safety is always our highest priority. We appreciate the swift and professional response of our flight and cabin crew, as well as the support of Airservices Australia firefighters,' a Virgin Australia spokesperson said. A replacement aircraft was found for the return flight, which was delayed by about five hours, while the Boeing 737-8FE aircraft was assessed for damage. No other flights at Hobart Airport were impacted by the fire. Sam McCambridge, who works for a rental car company at Hobart Airport, said two different groups of passengers told him cabin crew extinguished a fire after realising 'a lithium battery or some sort of charging device had caught fire in someone's bag'.
Daily Mirror
06-06-2025
- Daily Mirror
Bodies of woman and boyfriend found after chilling phone clue in disappearance
Leannedra Kang, 25, and her boyfriend Takahiro Toya, from Brisbane, were on holiday in Tasmania where they hired a car and a major search was launched after they didn't board a plane home Two bodies have reportedly been found by a crashed vehicle after a major search for a couple who did not board their flight home from holiday. Leannedra Kang, 25, and her boyfriend Takahiro Toya had rented a car for their trip travelling around Tasmania and the family of Leannedra became worried when they did not take their flight back home to Brisbane on Wednesday. What led to increase the concern of Ms Kang's family was that her sister saw her phone's last location was Goshen, a rural area in northeast Tasmania which was 'out of the way for her itinerary'. And now tragically police have reportedly said that two bodies, believed to be those of the missing pair, have been found on Friday evening by a crashed car which was in water off Tebrakunna Road. An investigation by police has led them to believe that the car drove off a bridge near Pioneer, between St Helens and Derby. 'At this early stage it appears they were travelling over a bridge when the vehicle has left the roadway and ended up in the water,' said Inspector Luke Manhood, reported Pulse Tasmania. 'This is a tragic outcome and our thoughts are with their families and loved ones.' Police said there are no signs of suspicious circumstances over the incident, though investigations are continuing. 'A report will be prepared for the Coroner,' Inspector Manhood added. Ms Kang had been regularly sharing updates with her family of her trip until they suddenly stopped on Tuesday afternoon. 'Please let me know if anyone has been in contact with her or seen her,' her sister Alexandra reportedly wrote in a Facebook post. 'My family is beyond worried.' Police in Tasmania issued a photo of the missing pair and the white Toyota Corolla that they had rented, in an appeal to the public. The appeal read: "Police are seeking public information in relation to the location of Leannedra Kang and Takahiro Toya (both aged in their 20s) who have been visiting Tasmania and were believed to have been in the St Helens/Scamander area recently. "They may be travelling in a (rental car) white Toyota Corolla with registration L67GW. Leannedra and Takahiro were scheduled to leave Tasmania on Wednesday (4 June) flying from Launceston home to Brisbane, but they did not board their flight or return the rental vehicle. "If you've seen them or the vehicle, or know where they are, please contact police on 131 444 and quote ESCAD 420-05062025. *Leannedra and Takahiro if you see this, you're not in any trouble, please phone police or family to let them know you're ok."
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Sad discovery at popular Aussie river sparks concern amid 'disturbing' trend
"Disturbed" locals have reported that hundreds — and possibly thousands — of small dead fish are washing up ashore along a popular Australian waterway in the country's south. Numerous dead fish have been spotted floating along the River Derwent in Tasmania over the weekend, sparking an investigation by environmental authorities. The fish, believed to be pilchards or sardines, were seen strewn along the water and beaches between Crayfish Point in Taroona and Long Beach in Sandy Bay on Saturday. The sight alarmed local residents, many of whom shared their concern on social media. Initial testing by Biosecurity Tasmania and the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) detected the presence of pilchard orthomyxovirus (POMV) — a virus known to naturally occur in several fish species found in Tasmanian waters — in samples collected over the weekend, Pulse Tasmania reported. The virus belongs to the same broader family as influenza but only infects aquatic species, with Atlantic salmon and Australian pilchards being particularly vulnerable. While it often exists in the environment without causing major issues, outbreaks can occur when fish are stressed due to environmental factors like warm water temperatures, low oxygen levels, or handling. These outbreaks can lead to symptoms such as lethargy, unusual swimming behaviour, reduced appetite, and, in severe cases, large-scale fish deaths. In recent months, mass fish deaths have been reported along Australia's coast. In March 2025, thousands of juvenile leatherjacket fish washed up on beaches stretching over 300 kilometres from Stanwell Park to Bermagui in New South Wales. Similarly, in South-East Queensland, reports emerged of leatherjacket fish washing ashore, with environmental factors such as changes in water temperature, pollution, or natural events like ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred potentially contributing to the strandings. In South Australia, a toxic algae outbreak was responsible for the deaths of numerous marine life. Among them were different species of fish, octopus and cockles (also known as pipis). The Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania confirmed that tests for illnesses typically associated with farmed salmon, including Tasmanian rickettsia-like organism (TRLO) and P. salmonis, returned negative results. Locals 'not happy' as mysterious 'foul-smelling chunks' wash up Senator slammed for car park claim after salmon disease outbreak 'Disgusting' photos of popular Aussie food spark furious debate While the current fish kill appears to be localised, further testing is now underway to determine whether other contributing factors may be involved. Officials are also monitoring nearby marine environments to assess the potential impact on other species. Environmental scientists said it's still unclear whether the event was an isolated incident or could indicate deeper ecological issues within the Derwent Estuary. In early 2025, Tasmania experienced a significant environmental crisis as large numbers of dead salmon and oily fish waste began washing up on beaches in the state's southeast, including Verona Sands and Bruny Island. These incidents were linked to a mass mortality event in nearby salmon farms, where over 5,500 tonnes of fish died in February alone—approximately six per cent of the industry's annual production. The primary cause of the die-off was an outbreak of Piscirickettsia salmonis, a bacterial infection exacerbated by rising water temperatures. As the infected fish decomposed, congealed fish oil and fatty, "foul-smelling" deposits formed, which then drifted ashore. Preliminary testing by the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) confirmed that these greasy "chunks" were composed of fish oil mixed with sand. Despite the decline in fish deaths, the incident has raised ongoing concerns about the sustainability and environmental impact of salmon farming in Tasmania. Calls for increased transparency and stricter oversight continue as the community seeks to prevent similar events in the future. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
