Qantas Redirect to Bucket List Destination

Passengers aboard Qantas flight QF9 from Perth to London found themselves unexpectedly grounded in the Maldives after the aircraft was diverted to the capital, Malé, due to a medical emergency on board.

The long-haul service, which departed Perth on Monday evening and typically takes just under 18 hours to reach London, had been flying for around eight hours when the incident occurred. The unscheduled landing meant the crew reached their maximum allowable duty hours, making it impossible to resume the flight without replacements.

While the tropical location may sound like an unexpected holiday bonus, passengers are unlikely to enjoy the island paradise, with most due to be rebooked on alternative flights within 24 hours.

Qantas confirmed the diversion and said staff from the airline’s London operations team were en route to the Maldives to provide support. The airline apologised for the disruption and is working with affected customers to get them on their way as quickly as possible.