MD-83 Autopilot Failure Leads To Qatar Airways Airbus A350 Distancing 3 minute read **Update: 25/04/21 @ 12:21 UTC – A statement from a Qatar Airways spokesperson has been added; details below.** On April 12th, Iran’s Caspian Airlines was flying one of its McDonnell Douglas MD-83 jets on a domestic route from Tehran to Kish when its autopilot malfunctioned. Meanwhile, a Qatar Airways Airbus A350-1000 was nearby its fellow Middle Eastern carrier’s aircraft and had to distance itself as a result of the conditions. The Qatar Airways Airbus A350-1000 was heading to California when the incident occurred. Photo: Getty Images Climbing aircraft