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Qantas to 'make it good' over foam spill

Qantas has indicated it will support commercial fishers affected by a spill of firefighting foam that leaked into Brisbane waterways from one of its hangars.

Qantas aircraft
Qantas will be investigated over the spill of toxic chemicals at Brisbane Airport. (AAP) Source: AAP

Qantas has promised to "make it good" to commercial fishers stung by a leak of toxic chemicals from one of its Brisbane hangars.

About 22,000 litres of the foam containing the toxic perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) spilled from a failed deluge system at the Brisbane Airport hangar on April 10.

Most of the spill was contained but some of the foam leaked into waterways via a drain, leading to a warning to fishers not to take prawns or other seafood from parts of the Brisbane River and creeks surrounding the airport.

Qantas domestic chief executive Andrew David met with local fishing and other stakeholder groups on Saturday.

He assured those who have suffered commercial harm the airline would make reparations, but stopped short of confirming financial compensation would be on offer.

"Where there is clear evidence of any commercial harm to them, we will make that good," he told reporters in Brisbane.

Mr David apologised over the incident and said the airline had made sure any possible future spill would be contained.

"We absolutely acknowledge that the issue that happened here is a Qantas issue, we've fixed that problem, we are quite disappointed and are very sorry it has happened," he said.

The Queensland government last year banned foams containing PFOA and wants the federal government, which holds jurisdiction over the airport, to do the same.

Mr David said the airline was working to source a firefighting foam that does not contain the substance.


2 min read

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Source: AAP



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