PERTH, 11 June 2010: The Qantas A330-300 Aircraft used in the successful search & rescue mission of American Tennage sailor Abby Sunderland has returned to Perth this evening

The aircraft departed Perth at approximately 7:40am this morning & took five & a half hours to reach the assumed location of Ms Sunderland, which was approximately mid-way between the South West coast of Western Australia & Sought Africa.

After reaching the location, the aircraft spend aroudn two hours hovering over the vessel to enable radio contact between the sailor & Australian Maritime Safety Authority spotters & also Federal Police, who were onboard the aircraft.

Qantas Captain John Carr, who commanded a crew of two First Officers & two cabin-crew on today's flight, said he was extremely pleased to be able to help in the rescue of Ms. Sunderland.

"I was honoured to be asked to be a part of today's rescue, & to help put the mind at rest of both Abby & her family" he said.

"It was not a typical day at the office for us, but we are trained in flying techniques & the use of the state-of-the-art technoloby that this aircraft is equipped with, to undertake operations like this one if we are called upone to do so.  Today, we received that opportunity, & it is a wonderful feeling to be a part of hopefully seeing Abby home safely when she completted her journey."

The aircraft is one of the airline's new fleet of A330-300s that is in use on the Perth-Sydney route & Perth based international flights to Asia.  It is a next generation advanced aircraft equipped with satellite navigation technology.

Qantas was approached to make the aircraft available because it had the capability to fly the long distance required & still maintain sufficient fuel reserves to enable a search to be conducted for several hours before returning to the Australian mainland.

The above report is brought to you by the partnership of

Qantas Airways & Downunder Travel