Jetstar flight from Melbourne to Launceston forced to abort take-off after a latch on the plane was left open

A Jetstar plane had to make an emergency stop on the runway just before takeoff after a latch on the plane was left open.

The airline’s JQ739 flight from Melbourne to Launceston on Saturday reportedly “overran the runway” when the pilot aborted the takeoff and brought the plane to an abrupt stop.

It is understood that the door to a small communications panel on the underside of the aircraft, near the wheels, had been left open.

The ground crew uses the communications panel to connect their headsets.

“We were just running down the runway in Melbourne to take off and the pilot literally hit the brakes because apparently air traffic control had told them there was a door open on the plane when they were trying to take off,” one passenger told the sender. Herald Sun.

Another passenger said the pilot was warned about the lockout by air traffic control seconds before they were about to take off.

‘We wanted to go for it on the runway, but we had to make an emergency stop. They hit the brakes. Someone from the tower said the door was open,” the passenger said.

Jetstar said the Airbus A320 was traveling at a low speed before coming to a stop.

“The captain stopped taking off at low speed because a small hatch of 10 x 20 cm at the front of the aircraft was open,” an airline spokesperson said.

‘The open hatch does not affect the safety of the aircraft during flight. The plane took off shortly afterwards and has since arrived in Launceston.’

Melbourne Airport said the flight was turned around just before departure.

“After taxiing to the runway, flight JQ739 aborted take-off and returned to the gate this afternoon due to a technical issue,” a spokesperson said.

‘The problem resulted in a flight delay of just under an hour and a half, with the aircraft taking off safely at 4.41pm.’