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Qantas 747 engine explodes (or some other small problem)
A Qantas 747 suffers a spectacular engine failure after takeoff, requiring a 30-minute fuel dump.
Summary
Shortly after departing San Francisco for Sydney, Qantas Flight 74 experienced a catastrophic failure of its number four engine. The crew spent approximately 30 minutes dumping fuel over the Pacific to reach a safe landing weight before returning to SFO. Despite the severity of the engine damage, the crew maintained a calm, professional demeanor throughout the return and landing.
Analysis
On August 31, 2010, Qantas Flight 74, a Boeing 747-400 bound for Sydney, experienced a major failure of its outboard right-hand engine (engine #4) shortly after takeoff from San Francisco International Airport. The failure was "contained" within the engine housing but was violent enough to cause significant vibration and visible sparking, which the pilots noted persisted even after the engine was shut down.
The recording highlights the deliberate nature of heavy aircraft emergencies. Because the 747 was fueled for a long-haul trans-Pacific flight, it was significantly above its Maximum Landing Weight (MLW). Landing immediately would have risked structural damage or a brake fire. Consequently, the crew coordinated with Oakland Center to dump fuel for 30 minutes near the "RAINS" waypoint. Notably, the pilot initially tells ATC they are a "negative emergency" while they are simply managing the situation, only upgrading to "Pan-Pan" (an urgency signal one level below "Mayday") once they were ready to commence the final approach.
A key technical moment occurs when the pilot informs ATC that due to their high weight, they cannot stay within the standard confines of the holding pattern. This is a critical piece of communication that ensures ATC provides enough airspace for the heavy jet's wider turning radius. The pilot’s refusal to provide detailed engine diagnostics to dispatch via ATC ("we're not in a position to pass that... at this stage") demonstrates "Aviate, Navigate, Communicate" priority—focusing on flying the plane rather than administrative reporting.
The incident concluded safely with a landing on Runway 28 Right. The crew requested an immediate inspection by fire services on the taxiway before taxiing to the terminal, concerned about the "severe damage" and previous sparking. This event is often cited in pilot training as a textbook example of CRM (Crew Resource Management) and calm professional communication during a high-stakes mechanical failure.
Original ATC Communication
Plain English Translation
SAN FRANCISCO TOWER
Qantas 74 heavy, San Francisco Tower. Cross runway 1 Left, hold short runway 1 Right.
SAN FRANCISCO TOWER
Qantas 74, this is the San Francisco Tower. Go ahead and drive across runway 1 Left, but stop and wait before you reach runway 1 Right.
QANTAS 74 HEAVY
Cross runway 1 Left, hold short runway 1 Right, Qantas 74 heavy.
QANTAS 74 HEAVY
Crossing 1 Left and stopping short of 1 Right, Qantas 74.
SAN FRANCISCO TOWER
Qantas 74 heavy, cross runway 28 Left, hold short runway 28 Right.
SAN FRANCISCO TOWER
Qantas 74, cross over runway 28 Left now, and wait just outside of runway 28 Right.
QANTAS 74 HEAVY
Cross 28 Left, hold short runway 28 Right, Qantas 74 heavy.
QANTAS 74 HEAVY
Crossing 28 Left, stopping before 28 Right, Qantas 74.
SAN FRANCISCO TOWER
Qantas 74 heavy, runway 28 Right, position and hold. Traffic is a seven-mile final regional jet.
SAN FRANCISCO TOWER
Qantas 74, pull out onto runway 28 Right and wait there. There’s a small regional jet on its final approach about seven miles away.
QANTAS 74 HEAVY
Runway 28 Right, position and hold, Qantas 74 heavy.
QANTAS 74 HEAVY
Moving onto 28 Right to wait, Qantas 74.
SAN FRANCISCO TOWER
Qantas 74 heavy, wind 270 at 10. Runway 28 Right, cleared for takeoff.
SAN FRANCISCO TOWER
Qantas 74, the wind is coming from the west at 10 knots. You are all set for takeoff on runway 28 Right.
QANTAS 74 HEAVY
Runway 28 Right, cleared for takeoff, Qantas 74 heavy.
QANTAS 74 HEAVY
Taking off on 28 Right, Qantas 74.
SAN FRANCISCO TOWER
Qantas 74 heavy, contact NorCal Departure.
SAN FRANCISCO TOWER
Qantas 74, switch your radio over to the Northern California departure controllers now.
QANTAS 74 HEAVY
Qantas 74 heavy, good day.
QANTAS 74 HEAVY
Qantas 74, have a good one.
NORCAL DEPARTURE
Qantas 74 heavy, NorCal Departure. Radar contact, climb and maintain flight level 190.
NORCAL DEPARTURE
Qantas 74, this is Northern California Departure. We have you on our radar, go ahead and climb up to 19,000 feet and stay there.
QANTAS 74 HEAVY
Flight level 190, Qantas 74 heavy.
QANTAS 74 HEAVY
Up to 19,000 feet, Qantas 74.
NORCAL DEPARTURE
Qantas 74 heavy, contact Oakland Center 134.15.
NORCAL DEPARTURE
Qantas 74, please switch to the Oakland regional controllers on frequency 134.15.
QANTAS 74 HEAVY
134.15, Qantas 74 heavy.
QANTAS 74 HEAVY
Over to 134.15, Qantas 74.
OAKLAND CENTER
Qantas 74 heavy, Oakland Center, roger. Cleared direct 37 North, 125 West. Climb and maintain flight level 300.
OAKLAND CENTER
Qantas 74, this is Oakland Center, I hear you. You're cleared to fly straight to the coordinates 37 North, 125 West. Keep climbing until you reach 30,000 feet.
QANTAS 74 HEAVY
Cleared direct 37 North, West 125 West, and climb flight level 300, Qantas 74 heavy. Center, Qantas 74 is on descent to flight level 200. We require radar vectors for a return to San Francisco.
QANTAS 74 HEAVY
We're cleared to those coordinates and to climb to 30,000 feet, Qantas 74 heavy. Actually, Center, we're descending to 20,000 feet now. We need you to guide us with headings for a return to San Francisco.
OAKLAND CENTER
Qantas 74 heavy, roger. Fly heading of 040 vectors for San Francisco.
OAKLAND CENTER
Qantas 74 heavy, understood. Fly a heading of 040, and I’ll provide the turns to get you back to San Francisco.
QANTAS 74 HEAVY
Heading 040, Qantas 74. Center, Qantas 74 on descent to flight level 200. We require radar vectors for return to San Francisco.
QANTAS 74 HEAVY
Heading 040, Qantas 74. Center, we're coming down to 20,000 feet. We need those guided turns to get back to San Francisco.
OAKLAND CENTER
Qantas 74 heavy, roger. Fly heading 040, vectors for San Francisco.
OAKLAND CENTER
Qantas 74 heavy, I hear you. Stay on heading 040, and I'll keep guiding you toward San Francisco.
QANTAS 74 HEAVY
Heading 040, Qantas 74.
QANTAS 74 HEAVY
Heading 040, Qantas 74.
OAKLAND CENTER
Qantas 74 heavy, fly heading 055, vectors for San Francisco, and when able, cleared direct San Francisco.
OAKLAND CENTER
Qantas 74 heavy, turn slightly right to heading 055 for your path to San Francisco, and when you're ready, you're cleared to fly straight to the airport.
QANTAS 74 HEAVY
Heading 055, direct San Francisco, Qantas 74.
QANTAS 74 HEAVY
Heading 055, then straight to San Francisco, Qantas 74.
OAKLAND CENTER
Qantas 74, that's approved. Advise when you're going to start the fuel dumping.
OAKLAND CENTER
Qantas 74, that's approved. Let me know when you're about to start dumping fuel to lighten the plane.
QANTAS 74 HEAVY
Qantas 74, will do. Qantas 74 will be starting dumping immediately.
QANTAS 74 HEAVY
Will do, Qantas 74. We are going to start dumping the fuel immediately.
OAKLAND CENTER
Qantas 74, roger. Attention all aircraft: fuel dumping proceeding in the vicinity of B-BOP, flight level 200, a heavy 747 turning eastbound. Qantas 74, when able, forward San Francisco estimate.
OAKLAND CENTER
Copy that, Qantas 74. Attention all aircraft: there is fuel dumping in progress near the B-BOP waypoint at 20,000 feet by a large 747 turning eastbound. Qantas 74, give me your estimated arrival time for San Francisco when you can.
QANTAS 74 HEAVY
0715, Qantas 74.
QANTAS 74 HEAVY
We expect to be there at 07:15, Qantas 74.
OAKLAND CENTER
Qantas 74, roger. And Qantas 74, confirm that you're a negative emergency?
OAKLAND CENTER
Got it, Qantas 74. And just to be sure, can you confirm that you are not declaring an official emergency?
QANTAS 74 HEAVY
Negative emergency, Qantas 74.
QANTAS 74 HEAVY
That’s correct, no emergency, Qantas 74.
OAKLAND CENTER
Qantas 74, roger. Attention all aircraft: fuel dumping proceeding in the vicinity of B-BOP, a heavy 747 at flight level 200, eastbound. Qantas 74, descend at pilot's discretion, maintain 10,000. San Francisco altimeter 30.00.
OAKLAND CENTER
Understood. All aircraft: fuel dumping is still in progress near B-BOP by a large 747 at 20,000 feet, heading east. Qantas 74, you can head down to 10,000 feet whenever you're ready. The local barometric pressure for your altitude is 30.00.
QANTAS 74 HEAVY
Descend to maintain 10,000 at discretion, and that's on 30.00, Qantas 74.
QANTAS 74 HEAVY
Heading down to 10,000 feet at our discretion, and we've set our instruments to 30.00, Qantas 74.
OAKLAND CENTER
Attention all aircraft: fuel dumping proceeding vicinity of B-BOP, heavy 747 at flight level 200, proceeding eastbound. Qantas 74, advise when you're done with the fuel dumping.
OAKLAND CENTER
[OAKLAND CONTROL] Attention all aircraft: a large 747 is currently dumping fuel near the B-BOP navigation point at 20,000 feet while heading east. Qantas 74, let us know when you’ve finished releasing that fuel.
QANTAS 74 HEAVY
Will do, Qantas 74.
QANTAS 74 HEAVY
[QANTAS 74] We will let you know, Qantas 74.
OAKLAND CENTER
Attention all aircraft: fuel dumping proceeding in the vicinity of SUPER, a heavy 747, flight level 200, proceeding eastbound.
OAKLAND CENTER
[OAKLAND CONTROL] Attention all aircraft: fuel is being dumped in the area of the SUPER waypoint by a large 747 at 20,000 feet, heading eastbound.
QANTAS 74 HEAVY
Qantas 74, we will be jettisoning fuel for approximately 30 minutes. Do you have any preferences where you'd like us to hold?
QANTAS 74 HEAVY
[QANTAS 74] Oakland, we’ll be dumping fuel for about 30 minutes. Do you have a preferred spot where you'd like us to fly in circles while we do this?
OAKLAND CENTER
Qantas 74, cleared direct to the RAINS waypoint and hold there.
OAKLAND CENTER
[OAKLAND CONTROL] Qantas 74, you’re cleared to fly directly to the RAINS navigation point and stay in a holding pattern there.
QANTAS 74 HEAVY
Qantas 74, could you spell that waypoint, please?
QANTAS 74 HEAVY
[QANTAS 74] Qantas 74, could you spell the name of that location for us, please?
OAKLAND CENTER
Qantas 74, that's Romeo Alpha India November Sierra. It'll be at about a 140 heading from where you are.
OAKLAND CENTER
[OAKLAND CONTROL] Qantas 74, that’s spelled Romeo-Alpha-India-November-Sierra. It’s about a 140-degree turn to the southeast from your current position.
QANTAS 74 HEAVY
Hold at RAINS, Qantas 74. Maintain flight level 200 for now.
QANTAS 74 HEAVY
[QANTAS 74] We’ll circle at RAINS, Qantas 74. We'll stay at 20,000 feet for now.
OAKLAND CENTER
Maintain flight level 200, Qantas 74.
OAKLAND CENTER
[OAKLAND CONTROL] Stay at 20,000 feet, Qantas 74.
QANTAS 74 HEAVY
Qantas 74, on our arrival, we will require runway 28 Right.
QANTAS 74 HEAVY
[QANTAS 74] Qantas 74, just so you know, when we come back in to land, we’re going to need the long runway, 28 Right.
OAKLAND CENTER
Qantas 74 heavy, roger. I'll pass that on to NorCal Approach.
OAKLAND CENTER
[OAKLAND CONTROL] Understood, Qantas 74. I’ll pass that request along to the Northern California arrival controllers.
QANTAS 74 HEAVY
Qantas 74, thank you. Oakland, Qantas 74 heavy, be advised due to our weight, we're unable to stay within the confines of the holding pattern.
QANTAS 74 HEAVY
[QANTAS 74] Thank you. Oakland, just be advised that because we’re so heavy with fuel, we won’t be able to keep our turns tight enough to stay inside the usual boundaries of the holding area.
OAKLAND CENTER
Qantas 74 heavy, that's approved. Maintain whatever boundaries you need for your hold. Qantas 74, would a descent help you burn off some more of that fuel?
OAKLAND CENTER
[OAKLAND CONTROL] That’s approved, Qantas 74. Use as much room as you need for your turns. Would it help you burn off that fuel any faster if we let you fly at a lower altitude?
QANTAS 74 HEAVY
Qantas 74, negative. It's coming out at pretty much a fixed rate, so we're happy to remain at this altitude.
QANTAS 74 HEAVY
[QANTAS 74] No, thank you. The fuel is dumping at a steady rate anyway, so we’re happy to stay at this altitude.
OAKLAND CENTER
Qantas 74, roger. Qantas 74, we're in communications with your dispatch now and they're wondering if you know the reason for the engine failure at this time?
OAKLAND CENTER
[OAKLAND CONTROL] Understood. Qantas 74, we’re talking to your company’s flight dispatchers now, and they’re asking if you know yet why that engine failed?
QANTAS 74 HEAVY
Qantas 74, look, that sort of information—we don't know the exact reason. Tell dispatch that we're not in a position to pass that sort of information to them at this stage.
QANTAS 74 HEAVY
Oakland, look, we don’t know the exact cause of the problem yet. Tell our company dispatchers that we aren’t in a position to give them that kind of update right now.
OAKLAND CENTER
Qantas 74 heavy, will do.
OAKLAND CENTER
Qantas 74, I’ll pass that along.
QANTAS 74 HEAVY
We came in to 30 DME, we're just starting this orbit now.
QANTAS 74 HEAVY
We’ve reached thirty miles out from the navigation station, and we’re starting a circular holding pattern now.
OAKLAND CENTER
Qantas 74, say again?
OAKLAND CENTER
Qantas 74, could you repeat that?
QANTAS 74 HEAVY
We are past RAINS, so we're just starting the turn back out again now.
QANTAS 74 HEAVY
We’ve flown past the RAINS checkpoint, so we’re starting to turn back around the other way now.
OAKLAND CENTER
Qantas 74, roger. That's approved.
OAKLAND CENTER
Got it, Qantas 74. You’re clear to do that.
QANTAS 74 HEAVY
Qantas 74, we'd like a heading.
QANTAS 74 HEAVY
Qantas 74, we’d like a compass heading to fly.
OAKLAND CENTER
Qantas 74, fly heading 240.
OAKLAND CENTER
Qantas 74, turn to a heading of 240 degrees.
QANTAS 74 HEAVY
Heading 240, Qantas 74. And we've completed our fuel dump and we're in a position to return for a landing.
QANTAS 74 HEAVY
Turning to 240, Qantas 74. Also, we’ve finished dumping our excess fuel and we’re ready to head back in for a landing.
OAKLAND CENTER
Qantas 74 heavy, roger. Standby for coordination. Fly heading 060, vectors for your descent into San Francisco, and maintain flight level 200. I'll have a descent for you shortly.
OAKLAND CENTER
Copy that, Qantas 74. Wait one moment while I coordinate with other controllers. Turn to heading 060, I’ll guide you toward San Francisco, but stay at twenty thousand feet for now. I’ll let you go lower shortly.
QANTAS 74 HEAVY
You want us to continue the right turn onto 060, Qantas 74 heavy.
QANTAS 74 HEAVY
Confirming you want us to keep turning right until we reach 060, Qantas 74.
OAKLAND CENTER
Qantas 74 heavy, direction of the turn is at your discretion.
OAKLAND CENTER
Qantas 74, you can turn whichever direction you want to get to that heading.
QANTAS 74 HEAVY
Okay, we'll come back onto a left turn onto 060, Qantas 74 heavy. Qantas 74 requests descent.
QANTAS 74 HEAVY
Okay, we’ll turn back to the left toward 060. Qantas 74 is requesting to start heading down to a lower altitude.
OAKLAND CENTER
Qantas 74 heavy, you've got traffic at about your 9 o'clock, 7 miles, southbound, an E-120 out of 17,000 climbing to flight level 190. I'll have lower for you once you clear that traffic.
OAKLAND CENTER
Qantas 74, you have another aircraft off your left side about seven miles away heading south—it’s a commuter plane climbing through seventeen thousand feet. I’ll let you go lower once you’re clear of that traffic.
QANTAS 74 HEAVY
Qantas 74 heavy is requesting descent.
QANTAS 74 HEAVY
Qantas 74 is still requesting to start our descent.
OAKLAND CENTER
Qantas 74, I'll have lower for you in 30 seconds. Qantas 74, descend and maintain 10,000. San Francisco altimeter 30.00.
OAKLAND CENTER
Qantas 74, I’ll be able to get you to a lower altitude in about 30 seconds. Qantas 74, go ahead and descend to 10,000 feet. The San Francisco air pressure for your altimeter is 30.00.
QANTAS 74 HEAVY
Descend and maintain 10,000 on 30.00, Qantas 74 heavy.
QANTAS 74 HEAVY
Heading down to 10,000 feet with the pressure set to 30.00, Qantas 74 heavy.
OAKLAND CENTER
Qantas 74 heavy, contact NorCal Approach 135.1, good night.
OAKLAND CENTER
Qantas 74 heavy, switch over to Northern California arrival control on frequency 135.1, good night.
QANTAS 74 HEAVY
135.1, Qantas 74 heavy. NorCal Approach, Qantas 74 heavy, descending to 10,000.
QANTAS 74 HEAVY
Switching to 135.1, Qantas 74 heavy. NorCal Approach, this is Qantas 74 heavy, we're currently descending to 10,000 feet.
NORCAL APPROACH
Qantas 74 heavy, NorCal Approach. Descend and maintain 10,000, the San Francisco altimeter 30.00. Verify you have Information Papa.
NORCAL APPROACH
Qantas 74 heavy, this is NorCal Approach. Continue down to 10,000 feet, the San Francisco pressure setting is 30.00. Confirm you’ve listened to the latest airport information update, code Papa.
QANTAS 74 HEAVY
10,000 on 30.00, we will get Papa, Qantas 74 heavy. Qantas 74 heavy, be advised we're declaring a Pan-Pan, Pan-Pan, Pan-Pan. Qantas 74 heavy is descending to 10,000 and we're requesting fire services to be standing by for our arrival at San Francisco.
QANTAS 74 HEAVY
10,000 feet and 30.00 on the dial, we’ll go get that weather update, Qantas 74 heavy. Also, be advised we are declaring an urgent "Pan-Pan" situation. Qantas 74 heavy is descending to 10,000 and we’re requesting that fire trucks be standing by for our arrival at San Francisco.
NORCAL APPROACH
Qantas 74 heavy, understand you're declaring an emergency now?
NORCAL APPROACH
Qantas 74 heavy, I understand you are declaring an emergency now?
QANTAS 74 HEAVY
Pan-Pan, Qantas 74 heavy.
QANTAS 74 HEAVY
It’s an urgent "Pan-Pan" status, Qantas 74 heavy.
NORCAL APPROACH
Qantas 74 heavy, roger. Request the personnel on board and the fuel remaining.
NORCAL APPROACH
Qantas 74 heavy, understood. Please let me know the total number of people on board and how much fuel you have left.
QANTAS 74 HEAVY
Qantas 74 heavy, we have 231 souls on board and the fuel remaining at this stage is 72 tons.
QANTAS 74 HEAVY
Qantas 74 heavy, we have 231 people on board and our remaining fuel at this point is 72 tons.
NORCAL APPROACH
Qantas 74 heavy, roger. Turn left heading 300, that's your base vector for the approach.
NORCAL APPROACH
Qantas 74 heavy, copy that. Turn left to a heading of 300 degrees; that’s the direction to set you up for your final approach to the runway.
QANTAS 74 HEAVY
Left heading 300, Qantas 74 heavy. And be advised we have no dangerous goods on board.
QANTAS 74 HEAVY
Left turn to 300, Qantas 74 heavy. And just so you know, we don’t have any dangerous or hazardous cargo on board.
NORCAL APPROACH
Qantas 74 heavy, descend and maintain 8,000.
NORCAL APPROACH
Qantas 74 heavy, descend and stay at 8,000 feet.
QANTAS 74 HEAVY
8,000, Qantas 74 heavy. Do you have a distance to touchdown?
QANTAS 74 HEAVY
Down to 8,000, Qantas 74 heavy. Do you have our current distance from the runway?
NORCAL APPROACH
Qantas 74 heavy, you're 40 miles from the airport.
NORCAL APPROACH
Qantas 74 heavy, you are 40 miles away from the airport.
QANTAS 74 HEAVY
Qantas 74 heavy. Qantas 74 heavy, can we go direct SEPAN?
QANTAS 74 HEAVY
Qantas 74, our large aircraft. Qantas 74, can we fly a straight line to the SEPAN navigation point?
NORCAL APPROACH
Qantas 74 heavy, roger. Proceed direct SEPAN. Descend and maintain 4,000.
NORCAL APPROACH
Qantas 74, understood. Fly straight to SEPAN now. Go down and stay at 4,000 feet.
QANTAS 74 HEAVY
Direct SEPAN, 4,000, Qantas 74 heavy.
QANTAS 74 HEAVY
Straight to SEPAN and staying at 4,000 feet, Qantas 74.
NORCAL APPROACH
Qantas 74 heavy, turn right, right turn heading of 010 vectors for your descent.
NORCAL APPROACH
Qantas 74, turn right. Turn to a compass heading of 010 so I can guide you down toward the airport.
QANTAS 74 HEAVY
Right heading 010, Qantas 74 heavy. And I'm not sure whether we've told you, we require 28 Right.
QANTAS 74 HEAVY
Right turn to heading 010, Qantas 74. And I’m not sure if we mentioned it yet, but we need to land on the right-hand runway 28.
NORCAL APPROACH
Qantas 74 heavy, turn left heading 360.
NORCAL APPROACH
Qantas 74, turn left to a compass heading of due north, 360.
QANTAS 74 HEAVY
Left heading 360. We are ready for an approach, Qantas 74 heavy.
QANTAS 74 HEAVY
Left to heading 360. We are all set to start our final approach for landing, Qantas 74.
NORCAL APPROACH
Qantas 74 heavy, turn left heading 270.
NORCAL APPROACH
Qantas 74, turn left to a compass heading of 270.
QANTAS 74 HEAVY
Left heading 270, Qantas 74 heavy.
QANTAS 74 HEAVY
Turning left to heading 270, Qantas 74.
NORCAL APPROACH
Qantas 74 heavy, you're 15 miles from the final approach fix. Maintain at or above 3,500 until established on the localizer. Cleared ILS runway 28 Right approach.
NORCAL APPROACH
Qantas 74, you’re 15 miles from the final approach checkpoint. Stay at or above 3,500 feet until you’ve locked onto the runway's guidance beam. You’re cleared for the instrument landing on runway 28 Right.
QANTAS 74 HEAVY
3,500 until established on the localizer, cleared ILS 28 Right, Qantas 74 heavy. Qantas 74 heavy, established ILS 28 Right.
QANTAS 74 HEAVY
Staying at 3,500 until we catch the guidance beam, cleared for the instrument landing on 28 Right, Qantas 74. And we are now locked onto the guidance for runway 28 Right.
NORCAL APPROACH
Qantas 74 heavy, contact San Francisco Tower, 120.5.
NORCAL APPROACH
Qantas 74, switch over and talk to the San Francisco Tower controllers on radio frequency 120.5.
QANTAS 74 HEAVY
120.5, Qantas 74 heavy. San Francisco Tower, Qantas 74 heavy, ILS 28 Right.
QANTAS 74 HEAVY
Switching to 120.5, Qantas 74. San Francisco Tower, this is Qantas 74, we're lined up for the instrument landing on runway 28 Right.
SAN FRANCISCO TOWER
Qantas 74 heavy, San Francisco Tower. Wind 270 at 8, runway 28 Right, cleared to land.
SAN FRANCISCO TOWER
Qantas 74, San Francisco Tower. The wind is from the west at 8 knots. For runway 28 Right, you are cleared to land.
QANTAS 74 HEAVY
Cleared to land, Qantas 74 heavy.
QANTAS 74 HEAVY
Cleared to land, Qantas 74.
SAN FRANCISCO TOWER
Rescue 37, for your information, the subject aircraft is on a five-mile final.
SAN FRANCISCO TOWER
Rescue 37, just so you're aware, the plane you're waiting for is about five miles out on its final approach to the runway.
RESCUE 37
Rescue 37, roger, thanks.
RESCUE 37
Rescue 37, understood, thanks.
SAN FRANCISCO TOWER
Rescue 41, at Charlie, cross runway 1 Left and 1 Right approved.
SAN FRANCISCO TOWER
Rescue 41, from your position at taxiway Charlie, you're cleared to drive across both runways 1 Left and 1 Right.
RESCUE 41
Rescue 41, cross 1 Left and 1 Right.
RESCUE 41
Rescue 41, crossing 1 Left and 1 Right.
SAN FRANCISCO TOWER
Qantas 74 heavy, your landing lights appear off.
SAN FRANCISCO TOWER
Qantas 74, you're a heavy aircraft, just letting you know your landing lights appear to be switched off.
QANTAS 74 HEAVY
Thanks, Qantas 74 heavy.
QANTAS 74 HEAVY
Thanks for that, Qantas 74.
SAN FRANCISCO TOWER
Rescue 37, proceed onto runway 28 Right. Crossing runway 1 Right and 1 Left approved for Rescue 37 and Mobile 211.
SAN FRANCISCO TOWER
Rescue 37, go ahead and drive onto runway 28 Right. Rescue 37 and Mobile 211, you both have permission to cross runways 1 Right and 1 Left.
QANTAS 74 HEAVY
Qantas 74 heavy, roger. We're just vacating 28 Right now on Tango and we'd like to go over to the apron where the emergency services are waiting.
QANTAS 74 HEAVY
Qantas 74, copy that. We’re just pulling off runway 28 Right now onto taxiway Tango, and we’d like to head over to the parking area where the emergency crews are waiting for us.
SAN FRANCISCO TOWER
Qantas 74 heavy, roger. Cross runway 28 Left and contact Ground .8.
SAN FRANCISCO TOWER
Qantas 74, understood. Cross over the parallel runway 28 Left and then switch your radio to Ground Control on frequency 121.8.
QANTAS 74 HEAVY
Cross 28 Left, ground .8, Qantas 74 heavy. San Francisco Ground, Qantas 74 heavy is crossing 28 Left.
QANTAS 74 HEAVY
Crossing 28 Left and switching to Ground on .8, Qantas 74. San Francisco Ground, this is Qantas 74, we are currently crossing runway 28 Left.
SAN FRANCISCO GROUND
Qantas 74 heavy, San Francisco Ground. Taxi via Alpha to the ramp.
SAN FRANCISCO GROUND
Qantas 74, this is San Francisco Ground. Follow taxiway Alpha all the way to the parking ramp.
QANTAS 74 HEAVY
Alpha to the ramp area and just come to a stop somewhere near the emergency services, Qantas 74 heavy.
QANTAS 74 HEAVY
Taking Alpha to the ramp area, and we’ll just come to a stop somewhere near the emergency vehicles, Qantas 74.
SAN FRANCISCO GROUND
Did you want to proceed to the gate or do you want to stop somewhere to get inspected?
SAN FRANCISCO GROUND
Did you want to keep going all the way to the gate, or do you want to stop somewhere first so the crews can inspect the plane?
QANTAS 74 HEAVY
Qantas 74 heavy, we don't have a gate assignment, but due to the nature of the engine failure, we'd like them to inspect it before we approach the gate, engine number four.
QANTAS 74 HEAVY
Qantas 74, we don't have a gate assigned yet anyway, but because engine number four failed, we'd like the crews to inspect it before we get close to the terminal.
SAN FRANCISCO GROUND
Qantas 74 heavy, join taxiway Alpha, hold short of taxiway Echo. Qantas 74 heavy, I want you to go easy on the power as you come around the corner with all the construction head to your right.
SAN FRANCISCO GROUND
Qantas 74, get on taxiway Alpha and stop just before you reach taxiway Echo. Also, please use very little engine power as you come around the corner because of all the construction workers to your right.
QANTAS 74 HEAVY
Roger, will do. And can we just pull up abeam the emergency services, please?
QANTAS 74 HEAVY
Understood, we’ll do that. And could we just pull up right alongside the fire trucks and emergency crews, please?
SAN FRANCISCO GROUND
Yeah, that's fine. Just make sure you clear that alley that's immediately to your right so other aircraft can get in and out of there.
SAN FRANCISCO GROUND
Yeah, that’s fine. Just make sure you don't block the narrow taxiway entrance immediately to your right so other planes can still get in and out of there.
QANTAS 74 HEAVY
Roger, we see Echo now. Thank you. And we don't have a gate assignment at this stage, do you know of one?
QANTAS 74 HEAVY
Understood, we see the Echo taxiway now. Thank you. We still don't have a gate to park at yet, do you happen to have one for us?
SAN FRANCISCO GROUND
No, I'll let the Ramp Tower know. I'm sure they'll get something for you, they've got a bit of open gates over there. Is there a frequency for the fire services?
SAN FRANCISCO GROUND
No, I’ll tell the gate controllers. I’m sure they’ll find you something, they have a few open spots over there. Do you have a radio channel to talk to the fire crews directly?
QANTAS 74 HEAVY
The nature of the engine failure was severe damage and even after shutdown, it had quite a large amount of sparking coming from it, so we just want to make sure that there is absolutely nothing there at the moment.
QANTAS 74 HEAVY
That engine failure caused some really serious damage. Even after we turned it off, it was throwing off a lot of sparks, so we just want to be absolutely certain there isn't a fire or any smoldering right now.
SAN FRANCISCO GROUND
Qantas 74 heavy, thank you, sir. Taxi Alpha to the ramp.
SAN FRANCISCO GROUND
Qantas 74, thank you for the info. Take the main outer taxiway all the way to the parking area.
QANTAS 74 HEAVY
Alpha to the ramp, Qantas 74 heavy. And Ground, if you could pass to the emergency services that we're much obliged for their trouble.
QANTAS 74 HEAVY
Taking the main taxiway to the parking area, Qantas 74. And Ground, if you could please tell the emergency crews we’re very grateful for all their help.
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