Monday morning’s 9am flight from Brisbane had to be diverted to Longreach to a mechanical issue.

One reader told the North West Star they were expected visitors on that plane – an Alliance plane – but was told it was diverted to an “in air emergency” to Longreach.

The reader told us their visitors were now on a seven hour bus trip from Longreach to Mount Isa though he could not be certain if this was a Qantas decision to bus the passengers or their own choice.

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A Qantas spokesperson said a replacement aircraft was being used to fly passengers to Mount Isa.

“They will be probably between three to four hours late than the scheduled service,” Qantas said.

QF2700 is showing as scheduled to arrive at 16.55 – four hours and 20 minutes after its scheduled time.

The delay comes a day after there were many complaints about the Qantas Sunday morning service – also under Alliance livery – about their being no toilets available on the flight with others hearing on the intercom at Mount Isa airport to use the toilet at the airport before embarking on the lunchtime flight back to Brisbane.

However Qantas said the problem was quickly resolved.

“There was an issue with the toilets midway through the flight which was fixed upon landing in Mount Isa,” they said.

Qantas did not respond to the question from the North West Star whether they thought this standard was acceptable and did not issue any apology.