Qantas flight halted minutes from takeoff

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SYDNEY, Nov 22 (Reuters) - A Qantas Airways Ltd flight from Australia to New Zealand was cancelled minutes before takeoff on Saturday after problems were noticed with one of its wings, a company spokeswoman said.
The 747-300 had just started taxiing out of the terminal at Sydney
airport on a flight to Christchurch when the decision was taken to stop the
flight leaving, she told Reuters.
"It was taxiing out to the runway," she said. All 213 passengers on board were given accommodation for the night and booked on another flight on Sunday. The incident occurred at 9.15 am (2215 GMT
Friday).
Despite an enviable safety record, Qantas has been subject to safety
reviews by Australian regulators in recent months following a series of
incidents.
In July a Qantas 747 was forced to make an emergency landing in Manila
after an oxygen tank exploded shortly after takeoff from Hong Kong. In October another Qantas plane suffered a midair plunge on a flight from Singapore to Perth.

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