Qantas flight QF10 diverted to Karratha due to headwinds and fuel concerns
Consensus Summary
A Qantas flight QF10 from London to Perth was forced to make an emergency landing in Karratha, Western Australia, on June 23, 2026, due to headwinds and insufficient fuel to complete the journey. The Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner diverted after weather conditions required more fuel for the final two hours of the flight, spending about one hour on the ground before continuing to Perth. Karratha Airport, which was recently approved to handle larger aircraft, served as a diversion point. The incident highlights the challenges of long-haul flights and comes as Qantas prepares to launch Project Sunrise flights from Sydney to London in 2027, using ultra-long-range Airbus A350-1000ULR aircraft. These new routes are expected to take between 18 and 21 hours, depending on wind conditions and direction. Aviation experts noted that pilots pre-plan diversion airfields and continuously monitor fuel consumption to ensure safety during long-haul flights.
ā Verified by 2+ sources
Key details reported by multiple sources:
- Qantas flight QF10 from London to Perth diverted to Karratha Airport in Western Australia due to headwinds and insufficient fuel to complete the journey.
- The Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner landed in Karratha at 11:51 AM local time on June 23, 2026, after departing London Heathrow at 12:28 PM BST on June 22, 2026.
- Karratha Airport was approved to accept larger aircraft only last month and is designated as a restricted-use international airport.
- The aircraft spent about one hour on the ground in Karratha before continuing to Perth, arriving at 2:36 PM local time (4:36 PM AEST).
- The diversion occurred due to weather conditions forcing the crew to adjust the flight path, requiring more fuel for the final two hours of the journey.
- Qantas plans to launch Project Sunrise flights from Sydney to London in 2027 using a modified Airbus A350-1000ULR with an 18,000-kilometre range.
- The London-Sydney Project Sunrise flight is expected to take between 18 and 20 hours, while Sydney to London would take about 19 hours 25 minutes to 21 hours.
- Melbourneās Swinburne University aviation lecturer Salim Hijazeen stated that pilots pre-plan diversion airfields and constantly monitor fuel calculations during flights.
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- The article mentions the Business Briefing newsletter delivers major stories, exclusive coverage, and expert opinion.
- The article notes the Perth-London route is seen as a step toward Qantasā Project Sunrise flights, with the 17-hour duration highlighting the appetite for long-haul direct connections.
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- Theage and SMH both report the same details, so no contradictions exist between these two sources.
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Qantas flight forced to make remote landing after running into headwinds
The unexpected stop for the Boeing 787 Dreamliner in a remote West Australian mining town shows the challenges Qantasā Project Sunrise could face.