[August 28, 2008] Probe reveals oxygen bottle burst on Qantas flight Tweet (Associated Press WorldStream Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) CANBERRA, Australia_Air safety investigators said the "sudden and complete release" of a pressurized oxygen bottle caused the explosion that blew a hole in the fuselage of a Qantas jet last month, forcing an emergency landing in the Philippine capital. Julian Walsh, acting executive director of the Australian Transport Safety Bureau, released an interim report Friday into the investigation of the emergency that occurred over the South China Sea on July 5. Walsh said one of the seven emergency oxygen cylinders below the cabin floor had exploded. "On the basis of the physical damage to the aircraft's forward cargo hold and cabin, it is evident that the number 4 passenger oxygen cylinder sustained a failure that allowed a sudden and complete release of the pressurized contents," Walsh told reporters in releasing the report. The Boeing 747-438 aircraft, carrying 365 people, immediately lost cabin pressure after the explosion blew a hole 60 inches (152 centimeters) long in the fuselage. Copyright ? 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]