SIA flight from Brisbane to Singapore diverted to Rockhampton due to cabin smoke

On November 11, a Singapore Airlines (SIA) flight from Brisbane to Singapore was unexpectedly diverted to Rockhampton due to smoke detected in the cabin. The flight, SQ236, was originally scheduled to depart Brisbane International Airport at 2:35pm local time and arrive at Changi Airport at 8:25pm. However, it departed Brisbane at 2:32pm and landed at Rockhampton Airport at 4:09pm the same day.

Upon arrival in Rockhampton, all passengers disembarked normally. Social media posts showed local emergency services present as passengers exited the aircraft and walked across the tarmac with their belongings. The cause of the smoke is still under investigation.

SIA provided an explanation for the diversion via their social media platform, stating that the issue was related to the aircraft's safety monitoring systems. One passenger, Lim Kai Yang, 21, shared that he noticed faint smoke while seated in business class and heard cabin crew checking overhead bins, initially assuming the issue was a powerbank fire.

As of 6:45pm on November 11, Lim was still at Rockhampton Airport awaiting a rescheduled flight. SIA later updated affected passengers, stating that a recovery flight to Singapore was scheduled to arrive in Rockhampton around 10pm local time, though the advisory warned that weather conditions in Brisbane might affect flight timings.

Singapore Airlines apologized for any inconvenience caused to passengers, assuring that necessary assistance was being provided, including refreshments, a relief flight, and rebooking of onward travel when necessary. The airline's next rerouted flight was expected to depart Rockhampton at around midnight local time and was projected to arrive at Changi Airport Terminal 2 at 5:05am on November 12.