Safety officials to probe Qantas episodes

SYDNEY, Aug. 4 (UPI) -- Australian aviation officials say they have formed a special unit to investigate three recent in-flight safety episodes on Qantas Airlines jets.

The announcement came after the airline said a flight bound from Sydney to Manila was forced to return Saturday after the plane developed a hydraulics leak. Despite the establishment of the safety panel, Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority said there was no cause for panic, the Voice of America reported Monday.

Officials said the safety specialists will be looking at Qantas' maintenance systems and emergency procedures. In the most serious incident last month, an exploding oxygen cylinder is believed to have torn a large hole in the fuselage of a Qantas airliner en route from London to Melbourne. Another flight was diverted after a landing gear problem was reported.

"I think we're a bit of a victim of our own success," Qantas spokesman David Cox told VOA. "Qantas' safety standards are so high and so well recognized that when we do have an accident like the other day with … the aircraft in Manila, it's big news."