A missing oxygen cylinder from the rear of the forward cargo compartment has emerged as the prime focus for investigators of a decompression incident involving a Qantas 747-400 operating from Hong Kong to Melbourne with 365 passengers and crew late last month. The aircraft suffered a significant explosion at the rear of the forward cargo bay, creating a gaping hole measuring 2 metres by 4 metres. The explosion sent a shockwave and debris through the cabin as floor venting, which became industry standard in widebody aircraft after the DC-10 crash in Paris in 1974, dampened the explosive effect.The aircraft was flying at 29,000 ft. and the crew put it into an emergency descent to 10,000 ft. and diverted to Manila, where it landed without incident. No injuries were reported.
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