A Singapore Airlines flight travelling from Brisbane to Singapore was forced to make an unscheduled diversion to another Australian airport after smoke was detected inside the cabin.
Flight SQ236 landed safely at Rockhampton Airport in Queensland on Wednesday (November 11), approximately 90 minutes after departing Brisbane International Airport.
Singapore Airlines confirmed that the aircraft landed “uneventfully” and all passengers were able to disembark normally.
Emergency Services Respond At Rockhampton Airport
According to Singapore Airlines, the flight departed Brisbane at 2.32pm local time, with its original destination being Singapore Changi Airport.
It was scheduled to arrive in Singapore at approximately 8.25pm.
However, the aircraft was diverted to Rockhampton after smoke was detected on board.
Photographs shared by Central Queensland Plane Spotting Blog on Facebook showed fire engines, police vehicles and ambulance personnel at the airport following the aircraft’s arrival.
There were no reports in the airline’s statement of passengers being injured.
Singapore Airlines said it was investigating the source of the smoke and working to assist everyone affected by the disruption.
Relief Flight Arranged For Stranded Passengers
Following the diversion, SIA arranged refreshments on the ground and began organising alternative travel arrangements for affected passengers.
A replacement flight was scheduled to depart Rockhampton at midnight local time on Thursday, November 12, with an expected arrival at Changi Airport at 5.23am Singapore time.
The airline also said it would help passengers with onward travel arrangements and rebooking where necessary.
However, the disruption caused frustration among some travellers, particularly those with connecting flights to catch.
One passenger’s family member took to X to highlight the difficulties faced by those on board.
The user said her sister was among the affected passengers and had several connecting flights to take.
She also complained that her sister had reportedly gone without food for 12 hours and was being kept in an area without access to food while waiting for the airline’s arrangements.
Responding to the complaint, Singapore Airlines reiterated that it was providing affected customers with the necessary assistance.
The airline also appealed for passengers’ patience and understanding as its ground teams worked to resolve the situation.
For now, SIA has not disclosed what caused the smoke to appear inside the aircraft.
The incident is another reminder of why airlines may sometimes choose to divert flights when potential safety concerns arise, even when it results in significant inconvenience for passengers.