Sydney airport planes avoid collision on tarmac amid staff shortages
A Jetstar and a Qatar Airways aircraft narrowly avoided colliding on a taxiway at Sydney airport on Sunday, as the airport grapples with air traffic controller shortages. One crew member was injured and an investigation is underway.
Two aircraft came dangerously close to colliding on the tarmac at Sydney airport, Australia's busiest, on Sunday morning at around 7am. The planes involved belonged to Jetstar and Qatar Airways.
A Jetstar spokesperson said the plane was following air traffic control instructions when its pilots had to brake sharply after another aircraft came into close proximity. The airline said an investigation had begun. A source indicated that early findings suggest the tug vehicle towing the Qatar aircraft may not have followed the instructions it was given.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) confirmed it is investigating the near collision. According to the bureau, a Jetstar A320 was taxiing ahead of a scheduled flight to the Gold Coast when its crew spotted a Qatar Airways Boeing 777, being towed by a tug, close by on a crossing taxiway. Both aircraft stopped abruptly. A cabin crew member on the A320 was injured, while the 777's nose gear connection to the tug was damaged.
Investigators intend to interview flight crews, tug operators, air traffic controllers and other witnesses, and to review CCTV footage of the incident.
A pattern of delays
The affected service, Jetstar flight JQ402, was cancelled, and one crew member required medical attention at the scene; no passengers were hurt. Passengers were rebooked onto later flights.
The near-miss came a day after more than 150 flights through Sydney were delayed on Saturday because of staffing shortages. Stephen Beckett, chief executive of Airlines for Australia and New Zealand, said air traffic provider Airservices Australia had failed to roster sufficient staff for three straight days.
NSW Premier Chris Minns said he was concerned both about safety and about the airport operating at full capacity, given its economic importance. He said he hoped a plan was in place to recruit more staff for the highly specialised role, acknowledging the tight labour market makes hiring difficult even though it is essential. Minns also noted that the upcoming opening of a new airport in western Sydney would add further strain on air traffic services. The disruption follows a difficult Friday at Sydney airport, when more than 120 flights were delayed and some passengers were left waiting on the tarmac for over an hour.
