DEFENCE MEDIA RELEASE
Issued by Ministerial Support and Public Affairs, Department of Defence, Canberra, ACT
Phone: 02 6127 1999, Fax: 02 6265 1545
MSPA 122/10
Thursday, 22 April 2010
Aircraft damaged in flare incident in Middle East
A Royal Australian Air Force AP-3C Orion aircraft has been damaged during an in-
flight incident over southern Afghanistan.
The incident was related to the irregular release of one of the aircraft’s counter-
measure flares due to a systems malfunction.
The incident occurred on the afternoon of Thursday 08 April, 2010.
The crew ceased their assigned mission and safely landed the aircraft at Al Minhad
Air Base in the United Arab Emirates.
The aircraft was assessed on landing, indicating damage to the airframe that has
required a technical and air safety investigation. This is now underway.
Media contact: Defence Media Liaison: (02) 6127 1999 or 0408 498 664
NEWS 
