Home Aircraft Incidents Qatar Airways A320 Cabin Pressure Problems

Qatar Airways A320 Cabin Pressure Problems

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Overview

On May 12th, 2024, a Qatar Airways Airbus A320-200 (registration A7-LAB), operating flight QR-437 from Sulaimaniyah, Iraq to Doha, Qatar, experienced cabin pressure problems during the climb. The passenger oxygen masks were deployed, and the aircraft was limited to an altitude of FL250 before continuing its journey to Doha, where it landed safely. Qatar’s Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) classified the event as a serious incident and initiated a comprehensive investigation.

Incident Details

Flight Information

• Aircraft Type: Airbus A320-200

• Registration: A7-LAB

• Operator: Qatar Airways

• Flight Number: QR-437

• Route: Sulaimaniyah (ISU) to Doha (DOH)

• Occupants: Passengers and crew (exact numbers not disclosed)

• Weather Conditions: No adverse weather reported

Sequence of Events

1. Climb Phase:

• The aircraft was climbing through FL265 when the crew received alerts indicating excessive cabin pressure and a “SYS 2” fault.

• The cabin altitude was recorded at 2600 feet.

2. Crew Actions:

• The crew immediately stopped the climb and descended to FL250.

• Passenger oxygen masks were automatically deployed as a precautionary measure.

3. Continuation to Doha:

• After stabilising at FL250, the crew elected to continue the flight to Doha.

• The aircraft landed safely in Doha approximately 110 minutes after departure.

Findings

Aircraft Systems

1. Cabin Pressurisation System:

• Preliminary data indicates a failure in the cabin pressure control system, specifically System 2 (SYS 2).

• Airbus A320s are equipped with redundant pressurisation systems to maintain cabin pressure; however, the malfunction in SYS 2 prompted the crew to limit the altitude.

2. Passenger Oxygen Deployment:

• The deployment of passenger oxygen masks occurred as a precaution, suggesting that cabin altitude warnings were nearing regulatory thresholds.

3. German Component Involvement:

• On January 6th, 2025, the German BFU confirmed their involvement in the investigation due to a component designed and manufactured in Germany.

Operational Procedures

• The flight crew followed standard operating procedures for cabin pressurisation malfunctions, including:

• Descending to a lower altitude.

• Deploying oxygen masks.

• Continuing the flight under safe conditions.

Recommendations

1. Pressurisation System Inspections:

• Conduct a detailed inspection of System 2 components, including sensors, valves, and controllers.

• Collaborate with the German manufacturer to identify any design or manufacturing issues.

2. Maintenance Oversight:

• Review the maintenance records of the pressurisation system for the affected aircraft.

• Assess if the failure could have been identified during routine maintenance checks.

3. Crew Training:

• Reinforce training for flight crews on managing cabin pressurisation system failures, including decision-making processes for deploying oxygen masks and choosing alternate flight paths.

4. Airworthiness Directives:

• If systemic issues are identified, Airbus should issue airworthiness directives (ADs) to inspect and rectify similar pressurisation systems in the A320 fleet.

Conclusion

The incident highlights the importance of redundancy in aircraft systems and the necessity of swift crew actions to ensure passenger safety. The ongoing investigation, involving Qatar’s AIB and the German BFU, aims to uncover the root cause of the SYS 2 failure and determine whether it poses risks to other A320 aircraft. A final report will include further technical findings and any necessary safety recommendations.

Disclaimer

This report is based on facts available at the time of writing. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, we apologise for any missed details or inaccuracies. If you are the rightful owner of any associated images and wish for their removal, please email takedown@cockpitking.com.

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