VH-OJK Boeing 747-438

This aircraft was the first of two new Boeing 747-438s ordered by Qantas Airways - September 01, 1989

It was allocated the Boeing Block Number 'RT561'

Rolled off the Boeing production line at Everett (Paine Field) - May 01, 1991

First flown as VH-OJK - May 21, 1991

Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-OJK - June 17, 1991

Registered to Double Bay Lease Co. Ltd & Neutral Bay Lease Co. Ltd

Leased to Qantas Airways Ltd, Sydney as the registered operator

Accepted by S. Collins for Qantas Airways at Everett (Paine Field) - June 17, 1991

The aircraft was named 'City of Newcastle' at Everett

This aircraft was the 90th Boeing airliner delivered new to Qantas Airways

It was the 41st Boeing 747 delivered to Qantas

Ferried Everett (Paine Field) - Seattle (Seatac) by Captain D. Massy-Green as QF7411D - June 17, 1991

It operated its first revenue service Seattle (Seatac) - Cairns (Captain D. Massy-Green) as QF531 - June 17, 1991

It arrived at Sydney (Kingsford Smith) on completion of the delivery flight as QF531P - June 21, 1991

Delivery route: Seattle - Cairns - Sydney

The aircraft was repainted at New Iberia - June 2003

It was renamed 'Newcastle' - June 15, 2003

Registered to Qantas Airways Ltd, Sydney - September 21, 2005

The aircraft was badly damaged when an oxygen cylinder ruptured in the forward cargo hold - July 25, 2008

It was operating service Hong Kong - Melbourne (Tullamarine) as QF30

The incident occured whilst the aircraft was cruising at 29,000 feet and some 55 minutes into the flight

Following the rapid depressurisation of the cabin it descended and diverted to Manila International Airport

No injuries were sustained by the 3 flight crew, 16 cabin crew and 350 passengers on board

It was repaired and returned to service

To view and download complete accident report click 'HERE'

It operated its final revenue service Los Angeles - Sydney (Kingsford Smith) as QF12 - December 26 - 28, 2009

Withdrawn from use and prepared for the ferry flight to United States for storage

Ferried Sydney (Kingsford Smith) - Victorville for storage as QF6019 - January 18, 2010

Advertised for sale by Planemart.com - January 01, 2011

It had flown 83,760 hours with 10,876 cycles to date

It was observed stored at Victorville in the basic Qantas livery - January 21, 2011

The reported sale to Cargolux for conversion to freighter configuration did not eventuate

Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - May 05, 2011

It was observed at Victotville as '5N-MHB' for Max Air (NGL), Katsina, Nigeria

Entered onto the Nigerian Aircraft Register as 5N-MHB - October 2011

Test flown at Victorville as 5N-MHB - October 22, 2011

Departed Victorville on the ferry flight to Kano, Nigeria - October 22, 2011

It arrived at Kano, Nigeria on completion of the ferry flight - October 23, 2011

It was operated by Maxair for Hadj flights

It was damaged when clipped by the taxying Turkish Airlines Cargo A330-243F TC-JCI at Lagos - October 25, 2013

The left-hand winglet of the A330 struck the right-hand winglet of 5N-MHB which was parked

The A330's wiglet sliced approximately 60 cms into the 747's winglet

Repaired and returned to service

Operated by Max Air on seasonal Hadj flights

Ferried Kano - Cambridge (Luton) for maintenance - April 07, 2017

A backlog of tecnical issues was worked through but not all were rectified

Departed Cambridge (Luton - 16:40 local) on the ferry flight to Nigeria (Kano) - July 28, 2017

After about 1 hour into the flight the aircraft returned to the United Kingdom due to technical issues

It landed at London (Stansted - 18:30 local) as Luton was already closed

Ferried London (Stansted) - Cambridge (Luton) - July 29, 2017

Departed Cambridge (Luton - 16:58 local) on the ferry flight to Nigeria (Kano) - August 04, 2017

Nearing Barcelona the aircraft returned to the United Kingdom due to technical issues

It landed at London (Stansted - 20:09 local) as Luton was already closed

Departed London (Stansted) for Gander (Newfoundland) - August 10, 2017

Ferried Gander (Newfoundland) - Marana (Pinal Airpark) - August 11, 2017

Parts to rectify the outstanding technical issues were sourced and fitted to the aircraft

Ferried Marana (Pinal Airpark) - Kano (Nigeria) - August 14, 2017

The aircraft was utilised for the 2017 Hajj season

It was withdrawn from use and stored at Marana - October 16, 2017

It was observed at Marana minus engines, nose cone, wing leading edge slats - July 19, 2019

Scrapped at Marana