Adam Thorn

It marks the company’s first commercial launch outside its Mojave base in California and comes before it plans to demonstrator launch at Toowoomba Wellcamp Airport in 2024.

The mission was in support of an initiative that sees the Australian government work with more than 150 research institutions globally to study the region.

The helicopters are currently en-route from Townsville in the Top End while the Hercules has transported WA emergency services workers to Broome.

The business has been slowly returning its 12 double-deckers to active service, though plans to scrap two permanently.

Commercial pilot and University of Adelaide lecturer Tony Schiemer lists the potential effects of widebody flying. 

News outlets are now reporting that a man phoned Narita Airport and claimed to have put 100 kilograms of plastic explosives in the A320’s cargo hold.