Part 6/10:
With grave urgency, the captain pushed the engines to maximum thrust as a last-ditch effort. The aircraft finally lifted off, but not without suffering severe damage as the tail finished scraping along the runway, striking a localizer antenna and tearing through runway lights. The cockpit was now locked in chaos, with the pilots battling to maintain control as the plane climbed with uncertainty.
Immediate Aftermath
As the crew struggled to assess the situation, alarming warnings filled the cockpit. The aircraft had sustained a tail strike and lost pressurization. Acknowledging the urgency of their situation, the captain transmitted a 'pan pan' message to air traffic control, seeking priority landing back in Melbourne while also gauging the damage to the airliner.