Record-Breaking Cargo Flight Covers Nearly 10,000 Nautical Miles

A Boeing 777F cargo plane operated by National Airlines flew from Prestwick in Scotland to Melbourne, Australia, covering a distance of 9,849 nautical miles in one non-stop flight that took around 19 and a half hours. This record-breaking flight is believed to be the longest ever commercial B777F flight.

The plane was chartered to transport new thrust reversers for a Jetstar Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, which had been grounded at Melbourne since July 25 due to engine issues. The parts were sourced from General Electric's maintenance and overhaul facility in Prestwick, Scotland.

The flight route took the plane through Europe, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Malaysia, Indonesia, and finally Melbourne, where it landed just before 5 am on August 5. The flight was operated by at least four pilots who took turns at the controls, with two working and two sleeping in special bunks.