Australia: Two Planes Narrowly Avoid Collision on Sydney Airport Tarmac

A near-miss incident at Sydney Airport on Sunday saw two passenger aircraft, a Jetstar and a Qatar Airways plane, come dangerously close to colliding on the tarmac. The event has prompted an investigation by Australian safety regulators and resulted in an injury to a crew member.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) reported that the Jetstar A320 was taxiing for departure to the Gold Coast when its flight crew observed the Qatar Airways Boeing 777, which was being towed by an aircraft tug, in close proximity on a crossing taxiway. Both aircraft were brought to an abrupt halt.

The sudden braking caused a Jetstar cabin crew member, who was moving through the cabin, to be injured. Additionally, the connection between the 777's nose gear and the aircraft tug sustained damage. Paramedics treated the injured crew member at the scene.

Investigators are currently gathering data from both aircraft, air traffic control, and interviewing crew members and tug operators to determine the cause of the near collision. The ATSB has also appealed to witnesses at the airport to submit any visual evidence of the incident. Jetstar, a subsidiary of Qantas, confirmed it is conducting its own investigation, stating its aircraft braked firmly after another aircraft came into close proximity while following Air Traffic Control instructions.

Flights at Sydney Airport experienced delays following the incident. This event occurred just a day after widespread delays at the airport were attributed to air traffic controller roster issues.

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Our aircraft was following instructions by Air Traffic Control when the pilots were forced to brake firmly after another aircraft came in close proximity