By Jason Phelan
Gold Coast SUNS preparations for Saturday's clash against Hawthorn in Launceston were disrupted on Thursday when the team's aircraft encountered a technical problem and was diverted to Hobart.
The Virgin Australia 737 flying from Brisbane to Launceston suffered a malfunction with the wing flaps that help the aircraft slow down to land and was diverted to Hobart airport, which has a longer runway.
The plane landed safely after circling overhead to burn off fuel, and the team boarded a bus to make the two-and-a-half hour trip back to Launceston shortly after.
GC SUNS football manager Marcus Ashcroft said the diversion was only a minor hiccup in the team's preparation with the club grateful for the assistance provided by Virgin Australia.
"It's obviously not ideal for us, but it will only cause a minor disruption. The boys are in good spirits," Ashcroft said.
"We will still arrive at our team hotel in Launceston tonight, and hold a training session at Aurora Stadium in the morning, so it will be business as usual.
The team was due to fly to Launceston on a scheduled Virgin Australia flight on Friday, but flew out on a chartered Virgin aircraft a day early due to the volcanic ash cloud that has disrupted flights across the southern part of the country since Sunday.
Ash from Chilean volcano Puyehue-Cordon Caulle caused Richmond to take similar action after the Tigers' flight from Sydney to Melbourne was cancelled following their loss to the Sydney Swans on Sunday.
The ash cloud has largely dissipated over Tasmania and was not a factor in Gold Coast SUNS diversion.
Australian Transport Safety Bureau duty officer John Robins said the longer runway at Hobart was better suited to handle a faster-than-usual landing, which he said posed no great risk to those on board.
"From the reports that we've received the Virgin 737 aircraft had a flap asymmetry problem," Robins said.
"They had a bit of a problem with one of those devices and the safety mechanisms kicked in and locked them in place.
"With those devices locked in it makes it a little more difficult for the pilots, but it just requires a different [landing] technique.
"They train for this eventuality regularly in flight simulators."
The plane was due to land in Launceston at approximately 6pm, but landed in Hobart some time later with team captain Gary Ablett alerting fans to the diversion via Twitter.
"Was supposed to land in Launceston 2 hours ago..... Just landed in Hobart. Not a great result!" Ablett tweeted.
Shortly after, he confirmed (also via Twitter) the team would be taking a two-and-half hour bus trip to Launceston.
Several of his teammates commented via Twitter that the landing had been uncomfortable, but all were happy to be en route to Launceston.
"Haha.... Browny has just started karaoke on the bus! So funny! I'm up next.... Any suggestions for a song? #goldcoastroadtrip," Ablett tweeted.
