Qatar Airways 777 Avoids Collision With Hot Air Balloon

During a flight between Doha, Qatar, and So Paulo, Brazil, a Qatar Airways Boeing 777 wide-body jet was involved in an unusual event. To avoid colliding with an unattended hot air balloon, the passenger plane was obliged to do an evasive manoeuvre.

On 3 July 2022, a Qatar Airways Boeing 777-300 aircraft was operating a routine scheduled long-haul passenger flight QR779. According to Flightradar24.com, the jet took off from Hamad International Airport (DOH) at 2:46 a.m. (UTC) and was expected to land at So Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport (GRU) in Brazil at 10 a.m. (UTC), but the flight was delayed owing to the unusual event.

A hot air balloon drifted into the plane’s flight path as it approached the arrival airport. When the pilots noticed the object, they performed evasive manoeuvres to prevent collisions. Fortunately, this was successful, and the jet was restored to its proper alignment after passing over the balloon.

The plane safely arrived at GRU airport at 10:16 a.m. (UTC) after a 16-minute delay.

However, if the jet had collided with the balloon, it may have been eaten by the plane’s engine, inflicting significant damage and possibly resulting in a severe incident.

Source: Aerotime Hub