09-05-2025
What REALLY happened when a Qantas employee fell through a gaping hole in an aerobridge - as traumatised colleagues hit back at online trolls blaming HER for the five-metre fall
The traumatised colleagues of a Qantas employee who was left comatose after plunging five metres through a hole in an aerobridge have shared new details about the horror fall - and sent a powerful message to her online trolls.
Emergency services were called to Sydney Airport at about 1pm on Saturday following reports the female worker in her 40s had fallen onto the tarmac.
Paramedics treated her for critical head and internal injuries before she was rushed to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in an induced coma.
The hospital has declined to provide further information on the request of her family.
What caused the incident is unclear, however, images of a gaping hole in the aerobridge have sparked speculation from armchair detectives online.
The internet has since run wild with theories, prompting one Qantas employee who claimed to have been working at the time to respond.
'So many unnecessary and uniformed comments as to the true facts that let to this tragic accident today,' she wrote on a Facebook post.
'Please don't speculate what happened to the staff member. I was on shift when this incident unfolded and had traumatised many Qantas staff.'
She added the woman followed 'all the correct safety procedures'.
Another Facebook user purported to have inside knowledge on the incident and the woman's subsequent medial treatment.
'She was leaning on the side of the aerobridge and it buckled out, separating from the floor. A male colleague tried to grab her to no avail,' she wrote.
'She was unresponsive for 15 minutes, but was revived in the ambulance and then put into an induced coma. She has head injuries and most likely broken bones.'
In an update the user wrote: 'Update on aerobridge fall. She has bleeding on the brain and was operated on last night.
'She has a broken collarbone, broken ribs, and probably a broken pelvis. She fell sideways, then backwards, and hit her head. She is not breathing on her own yet. What an absolutely tragedy.'
Daily Mail Australia does not suggest the woman's claims are true. She did not respond to a request for comment.
A parent of a Qantas employee, who she claimed witnessed the incident, defended the woman after a post attracted a series of insensitive comments from trolls.
Safework NSW is investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident, while Qantas said their focus was on supporting the injured worker
'How dare you, my daughter was a co-worker there and she was put into a coma. Think of her family,' she wrote.
Meanwhile, purported associates of the woman have shared messages of support, including one Qantas employee who said she was praying for her.
'So devastating,' she added.
A spokesperson for Sydney Airport confirmed a fall had taken place but refused to comment on the images of the hole in the aerobridge.
'On Saturday, an airline employee fell from an aerobridge in the T3 Domestic Terminal,' they said.
'They were attended to by first-aid responders and transferred by ambulance to hospital for further treatment.
'Aerobridges are subject to frequent inspections and are serviced as part of a scheduled systematic preventative maintenance program.'
Sydney Airport confirmed Safe Work NSW was conducting investigations.
'Our focus is on the welfare of the injured staff member and assisting Safe Work NSW with their enquiries,' a spokesperson continued.
'We have also made our Employee Assistance Program available to all precinct workers for counselling and support services.'
Qantas said its focus was supporting the injured team member.
'Sydney Airport and Qantas will be assisting Safe Work NSW with their investigation,' a spokesperson said.
A spokesperson for Safework NSW confirmed investigations are 'ongoing', adding '
