Medical Emergency and Priority Landing – Boeing 737-838 North of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia – March 10, 2025

Date:
Monday, March 10, 2025

Time:
Not specified (Flight departed Brisbane at ~6:20 AM local time)

Type of Aircraft:
Boeing 737-838

Owner/Operator:
Qantas

Registration:
VH-VXI

MSN:
33479/1141

Year of Manufacture:
2002

Engine Model:
CFMI CFM56-7B

Fatalities:
0 / Occupants: 133 (127 passengers, 6 crew)

Other Fatalities:
0

Aircraft Damage:
None

Location:
North of Sydney, NSW – Australia

Phase:
En route

Nature:
Passenger – Scheduled

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

Destination Airport:
Sydney-Kingsford Smith International Airport, NSW (SYD/YSSY)

Confidence Rating:
Information is only available from news, social media, or unofficial sources

Circumstances:

On March 10, 2025, Qantas flight QF505, a Boeing 737-838 operating a scheduled passenger service from Brisbane to Sydney, encountered a medical emergency involving the captain during the en route phase. The aircraft, carrying 127 passengers and six crew members, was north of Sydney when the incident occurred.

The captain, who was Pilot Monitoring, experienced sudden chest pains. The first officer, acting as Pilot Flying, initiated a PAN (Possible Assistance Needed) call to air traffic control and requested priority handling for an expedited landing. The crew also requested defibrillators to be available upon arrival.

To allow time for the crew to assess the captain’s condition, the aircraft entered a holding pattern north of Sydney, completing two loops near Newcastle. During this period, the first officer maintained control of the aircraft. The captain, though unwell, remained conscious and assisted with communications.

After stabilizing the situation, the flight proceeded to Sydney Airport, where it landed safely. The captain, still experiencing chest pains, taxied the aircraft to the gate (as the first officer cannot taxi from the right seat) and was immediately met by paramedics. He was transported to a hospital for further evaluation.

The incident occurred amid the resumption of flights to and from Brisbane following disruptions caused by Tropical Cyclone Alfred, which had halted operations in the region for 48 hours.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) is gathering details about the incident, though no formal investigation has been announced. Qantas confirmed the event in a statement, emphasizing that the first officer followed standard procedures to ensure a safe outcome.