Qantas plane sustains further damage

The Qantas Boeing 747 jet which was damaged by a midair explosion earlier this year has sustained further damage which undergoing repairs.

An oxygen tank exploded aboard the plane in July while cruising above the South China Sea, forcing the plane to make an emergency landing in Manila.

Now, after undergoing repairs in the Philippines, the plane has been involved in a further collision.

While being towed the plane collided with another Boeing 747 at the Qantas maintenance base at Avalon Airport, outside Melbourne. The extent of the damage was being assessed according to Qantas.

Staff involved in this morning’s collision, which occurred about 09.30 local time, have been suspended pending a full investigation, a Qantas spokesman confirmed.

No passengers were aboard either plane during the latest collision.

Chris O'Toole