BRISBANE AIRPORT, QLD — The longest and possibly most tracked flight in American Airlines' history landed in Brisbane, Australia, today.
The whole event was live-streamed on Brisbane Airport's YouTube channel. After the flight touched down, the flight crew stuck an Australian and American flag out of the cockpit in celebration of the historic landing.
"An Australian and American flag, because this is not just linking two cities, this is linking two countries," Peter Doherty, Brisbane Airport’s media manager, said during the lives stream. "Look at that! It's fantastic!"
The flight is the longest flight by distance in the American Airlines global network and the longest flight on the Brisbane Airport destination map, according to a press release from Brisbane Airport.
“We expect this to be one of the most tracked flights on Flightradar24, with people around the world tuning in to follow the aircraft’s progress from Dallas-Fort Worth to Brisbane, especially keen to watch the live stream of the landing,” Ian Petchenik, director of communications at Flightradar24, said.
The flight was also the inaugural direct American Airlines flight between Dallas-Fort Worth to Brisbane, the release states.
"Welcome to Brisbane, American Airlines flight AA7, Dallas-Fort Worth to Queensland, linking the Lone Star State with the Sunshine State"
The flight took 15 hours and 44 minutes in all and was staffed by two separate flight crews, according to the live stream.
“As Australia’s most connected domestic airport, there are plenty of unique aircraft that service regional and rural communities visible on the airfield," Peter Doherty, Brisbane Airport’s media and communications manager, said.