Qantas responds after employee plummets 6m from airbridge, shatters bones

Qantas says it is “truly sorry” after a Sydney airline worker fell through a gap in an aerobridge and suffered critical injuries.

Olivia Hristovska, a Qantas customer service employee, was working at Sydney Airport in May when she peered through a gap in the airbridge.

In footage obtained by 9News, Ms Hristovska, 51, stepped forward and fell through a gap, hitting the ground 6m below.

Ms Hristovska was rushed to the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in a critical condition, where she was placed in an induced coma.

She suffered severe head injuries, a fractured spine, broke her clavicle, pelvis and multiple ribs, and had a collapsed lung.

Qantas executive manager global airports Darsh Chapman said the airline was working to help Ms Hristovska and her family.

“We are truly sorry for the devastating incident that occurred to one of our team members at Sydney Airport last month and acknowledge the significant impact this has had on Olivia and her family,” Ms Chapman said in a statement to NewsWire.

“We have had a number of conversations and correspondence with Olivia’s family since the day of the incident and have offered our full support through this incredibly difficult time.

“We are here to assist Olivia in any way we can through her recovery while also respecting her family’s request for privacy during this stage of her recovery.

“Everyone at Qantas and Sydney Airport wants to know exactly what happened and we are supporting SafeWork NSW as it conducts a full investigation into the incident.”

Ms Chapman said both Qantas and Sydney Airport had now put in place enhanced safety procedures.

Qantas has also engaged independent experts to look at how safety can be improved on aerobridges at airports around Australia and the world.

SafeWork have been contacted for comment.

Ms Hristovska’s daughters feel they were left in the dark about the incident, saying they were initially only given “limited information” and that their mother had “had a fall”.

“No one actually told us what had happened,” daughter Monique told 9News, adding she learned about the circumstances from doctors and the media.

The two daughters are pleading for more information about the incident to be revealed.

Their mother has since been discharged from the hospital but requires full-time care, provided by her two daughters.

Daughter Monique said her mother had “lost her whole identity” since the incident.

“I’ve had so many moments of anger, but I am just so grateful she is here,” she said.