July 31, 2025

Carter Capner Law monitors accidents involving light aircraft, helicopters, charter flights, balloons, commuter aircraft and airlines throughout Australia and overseas to spotlight safety issues of concern to our clients and to demonstrate those situations in which they may have a right to an insurance or compensation recovery. We act for pilots, passengers, operators, aircraft owners and aviation employees worldwide. Call today on 1300 529 529 or click here to reach Carter Capner Law. Click on Client Showcase to view our history of aircraft accident compensation claims.

Date:
Thursday, July 24, 2025

Time:
18:55 Local Time

Type of Aircraft:
Embraer ERJ-190AR

Owner/Operator:
Alliance Airlines, operating for Qantas

Registration:
VH-A2T

MSN:
19000179

Year of Manufacture:
2008

Engine Model:
General Electric CF34-10E

Fatalities:
0 / Occupants: Not specified

Other Fatalities:
0

Aircraft Damage:
Substantial

Category:
Serious incident

Location:
Cairns Airport, QLD (CNS/YBCS) – Australia

Phase:
Initial climb

Nature:
Passenger – Scheduled

Departure Airport:
Cairns Airport, QLD (CNS/YBCS)

Destination Airport:
Brisbane International Airport, QLD (BNE/YBBN)

Investigating Agency:
ATSB

Confidence Rating:
Information verified through data from accident investigation authorities

Circumstances:

On July 24, 2025, an Embraer ERJ-190AR aircraft registered VH-A2T and operated by Alliance Airlines on behalf of Qantas, experienced a serious incident during departure from Cairns Airport (CNS), Queensland.
The aircraft, operating a scheduled passenger service to Brisbane, departed Cairns at approximately 18:55 local time. During the initial climb, the crew did not complete the after take-off checklist, resulting in the landing gear remaining extended beyond the recommended retraction window.

The flight crew detected an unusual noise outside the aircraft and observed via the EICAS (Engine Indication and Crew Alerting System) that the gear was still extended. Upon retracting the landing gear at an airspeed exceeding the certified gear retraction limit, a gear speed exceedance event occurred.

Although the aircraft continued safely to its destination, the event was classified as a serious incident due to the exceedance of structural operating limits. The ATSB has launched an investigation and is analysing operational and flight data to determine contributing human and procedural factors.

Sources:
ATSB, Flightradar24

Carter Capner Law monitors accidents involving light aircraft, helicopters, charter flights, balloons, commuter aircraft and airlines throughout Australia and overseas to spotlight safety issues of concern to our clients and to demonstrate those situations in which they may have a right to an insurance or compensation recovery. We act for pilots, passengers, operators, aircraft owners and aviation employees worldwide. Call today on 1300 529 529 or click here to reach Carter Capner Law. Click on Client Showcase to view our history of aircraft accident compensation claims.