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Twitter adds to plane hysteria

Twitter is helpful to circulate news quickly, but when it was believed a plane crashed in Indonesia, Twitter was a platform to spread panic.

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Twitter is helpful to circulate news quickly, but today, when it was believed a plane crashed in Indonesia, Twitter was a platform to spread further panic.

Initial reports were talking about an explosion and a plane crash.

@BreakingNews tweeted: "Singapore-bound jetliner crashes in Indonesia; debris from a plane found on Batam island".

Another tweet said Reuters quoted Indonesian television that the Qantas plane - an Airbus A380 - crashed near Batam Island, Indonesia.

Metal debris including a piece bearing part of the airline's red-and-white "flying kangaroo" emblem were initially reported slamming into industrial and residential areas of the northern city of Batam, opposite Singapore.

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"I didn't see a plane crash but I heard a loud explosion in the air. There were metal shards coming down from the sky into an industrial area in Batam," witness Noor Kanwa told newswire AFP.

Similar reports came through quickly on Twitter.

"No doubt that it is Qantas debris," @theburgerman said.

The double-decker plane was carrying 433 passengers and 26 crew from Singapore to Sydney when it ran into trouble shortly after takeoff and had to return to the city-state's Changi Airport leaving a trail of smoke.

Another witness described hearing a screeching sound before the explosion, and said Batam residents came out of their homes to observe the high-tech superjumbo circling as it used up its fuel before attempting to land.

"I was driving near a residential estate when suddenly I heard a thunderous braking sound," 35-year-old driver Ricky, 35, told AFP.

People on Twitter got impatient and wanted to know more immediately.

"AirlineIndustry forgive me. I'm eager for #qantas to provide a detailed explanation of what "engine issue" means?," someone asked.

Twitter also displayed some personal accounts of the scare.

The first tweet from Ulf Waschbusch of Singapore approximately three hours ago details his excitement over his trip to Australia for the first time.

"On my way to Australia for the first time and first time on A380!" @ulfw tweeted.

His second tweet shortly after the engine explosion and emergency landing isn't quite as cheery.

"Just emergency landed back in Singapore after engine two blew up and parts ripped through wings".

He posted a picture of the damaged wing which went all around the world.

One of his friends sent him a message: "@ulfw you do know that the world media reported that this plane had already crashed?"

Some others were asking him more information: "@ulfw I think my brother is on that flight too!"

The Qantas plane spent several minutes dumping fuel over Indonesia before making its emergency landing in Singapore, where it touched down safely and was swarmed by fire trucks.

One of the engines on the left wing looked to be missing, and the area around it was black.

The Australian government said no passengers or crew were injured in the incident, keeping intact Qantas's record of never having had a fatal jetliner accident in its 90-year history.


3 min read

Published

Updated

By staff, agencies

Source: SBS


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