Pilot injures flight attendant by accidentally rolling Virgin Australia jet
- On September 6, 2023, a Virgin Australia pilot mistakenly activated the rudder trim, causing a 42-degree left roll during a flight.
- A flight attendant sustained a minor injury as food carts were moving through the cabin during the incident.
- In response to the event, Virgin Australia adjusted its flight deck entry procedures to enhance safety and prevent recurrence.
On September 6, 2023, during a flight from Brisbane to Melbourne, a Virgin Australia Boeing 737 experienced a critical incident due to pilot error. The captain, responding to a call from a flight attendant asking to enter the cockpit, accidentally engaged the rudder trim control while attempting to unlock the flight deck door. This mistake caused the aircraft to roll 42 degrees to the left as the autopilot initially fought against the left yaw. After five seconds, the autopilot reached its limit, leading the plane to roll further to the left. A cabin crew member stabilizing moving food carts sustained a minor injury from the abrupt maneuver. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) investigated this incident and found that the cockpit door unlock switch and rudder trim control were closely located, contributing to the error. During the ensuing roll, the first officer attempted to regain control by disconnecting the autopilot and applying right aileron input, correcting the aircraft's attitude before proceeding without further disturbance to the flight. In response to this incident, Virgin Australia implemented procedural changes to its flight deck entry protocols and reduced the duration for which the door unlock switch must be held, emphasizing the need for enhancing safety measures in cockpit operations. The ATSB underscored that the similarity between the two switches was a major factor in the incident. Ensuring pilot awareness of cockpit controls' layout appears to be vital in preventing similar occurrences in the future. Virgin Australia emphasized its commitment to safety, stating that they worked closely with the ATSB to support the investigation and have made necessary procedural and training changes to safeguard against such errors. This incident raises questions about cockpit design and how small changes in safety protocol can influence overall aviation safety, prompting calls for industry-wide reviews of standard operating procedures concerning cockpit accessibility and crew coordination.