There were always bound to be follow-up stories following the emergency with a QANTAS 747 jet (a huge hole in the fuselage prompting an emergency landing).

Initial reports alleged the jet had corrosion problems. Then the passengers said some of the oxygen masks didn’t operate.

When the national broadcaster (ABC Radio) tried to get comment from QANTAS on the masks, there was no comment. Hardly great PR stuff by the national carrier, which is has been under scrutiny in recent years for cutting back and outsourcing maintenance overseas.

Incidents like this do irrepairable damage. But to leave journalists’ questions unanswered, beggars belief. The damage mounts.