An Australian aircraft maintenance engineer has been awarded more than A$40,000 (US$28,000) in compensation after being dismissed over a decision that delayed a Singapore Airlines flight by 17 minutes, though he will not be reinstated.

An aircraft maintenance manager will be paid $40,000 but has failed to win back his job after Singapore Airlines said an investigation into his conduct was biased.

The aircraft maintenance worker failed to win his job back, despite the compensation, in part because he had been working shifts with a competing company.