Part 2/11:
The aircraft, just two years old and the first of six A380s delivered to Qantas, had just completed a stop in Singapore for refueling. Led by Captain Richard de Crepney, a seasoned pilot with over 15,000 flight hours, the flight was readied for takeoff alongside an unusually large crew consisting of two captains, a first officer, and two other pilots for training and assessment purposes. Clear communication regarding the chain of command was established to minimize confusion during the flight.
At 9:56 a.m., the airplane took off from Singapore, initially climbing smoothly as passengers settled in for the anticipated seven-and-a-half-hour flight. However, shortly after reaching an altitude of 7,000 feet, disaster struck.