Video captured manoeuvre at Horseshoe Bay involving twinjet modified for Qatar Airways Cargo.
Safety authorities could be called in to probe a controversial low-height flypast carried out by a converted Boeing 777-200LR freighter as it undertook final tests before delivery to Qatar Airways.
Video of the aircraft circulating on social media appears to depict it flying, just a few metres above ground, parallel to the north-south runway of Horseshoe Bay Resort airport, west of Austin in Texas.
The aircraft then banks right as it climbs away, with the right wing-tip coming into close proximity with the runway surface.
It carries the colours of Qatar Airways’ cargo division, the launch customer for the Mammoth Freighters 777-200LRMF conversion programme.
The twinjet appears to have departed Grissom Joint Reserve air base in Indiana, bound for Fort Worth Alliance airport on 24 June — descending to perform the manoeuvre en route.
US aviation services and leasing firm Jetran is placing the Mammoth-converted aircraft with customers including Qatar Airways.
Jetran says the aircraft was undertaking a final pre-delivery test flight before being handed over to Qatar.
It stresses that, although bearing Qatar Airways livery, the aircraft was neither owned nor operated by the carrier, and did not have a Qatari registration.
The pilots on board, it says, were not Qatar Airways crew, and it adds that the manoeuvre “does not reflect operational standards”.
“We expect the relevant parties and authorities to investigate this matter thoroughly and take appropriate action,” states Jetran.
The aircraft involved appears to be the US-registered N705DN, an ex-Delta Air Lines airframe, of which the US FAA lists Jetran of Horseshoe Bay as the owner.
Mammoth Freighters says it is also aware of the video, and points out that — while the 777 involved was subject to a Mammoth conversion — it does not own the aircraft.
“Mammoth was not in control of the aircraft at the time of the manoeuvre,” it says. “The current owner, which is not Qatar Airways, was in control.”
It says the twinset is in its final stages of preparation prior to delivery to the Doha-based airline.
FlightGlobal has sought comment from Qatar Airways, the FAA, and the National Transportation Safety Board,
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