Emergency landing not caused by goats' flatulence: SIA

SINGAPORE — Singapore Airlines (SIA) has confirmed reports that a freighter plane had to be diverted to Bali en route from Adelaide to Kuala Lumpur on Oct 26, but said that there was no evidence that animal flatulence was the cause.

According to a SIA spokesperson, SQ flight 7108, which was carrying a shipment of goats, had been diverted to Bali after the crew received a warning from the onboard fire alarm system.

The aircraft, a Cargo Boeing 747 freighter plane, landed in Bali at 5.11pm local time and upon inspection, no evidence of fire or smoke was found. The aircraft was later certified serviceable and departed at 8.20pm local time. It delivered its shipment safely to its destination in Kuala Lumpur at 11.16pm local time.

The Aviation Herald first reported about the incident on Oct 27. In its report, which was later picked up by publications like the Daily Mail in the UK, the Aviation Herald said that the smoke alert had been due to “exhaust gasses and manure produced by the sheep”. 

“That is an assumption being made by media, which we are unable to confirm,” the SIA spokesperson told TODAY.