Kuwait Airways becomes wholly state-owned shareholding company

A Qatar Airways Boeing 777 narrowly avoided a collision with a Jetstar A320 at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport on Sunday, leading to an investigation. The Jetstar aircraft, bound for Australia's Gold Coast, had to brake suddenly after its proximity to the larger Qatar Airways plane while taxiing to the runway. Both planes came to a halt, and paramedics were called to check on a Jetstar cabin crew member, though no passengers were harmed.

Qatar Airways has yet to comment on the matter. In response to the incident, a ground controller and tug operator were removed from their duties and will undergo mandatory drug and alcohol testing, as required by standard policy. Transport Minister Catherine King stated that the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) would conduct the investigation, and further details would be withheld at this stage.

The Jetstar aircraft had been adhering to air traffic control instructions when the sudden braking occurred due to another aircraft getting too close. The airline has initiated its own investigation. The ATSB is currently examining data from both aircraft, air traffic control communications, CCTV footage, and interviewing various witnesses, including flight crew, tug operators, and controllers.

ATSB chief commissioner Angus Mitchell stated that it is premature to ascertain the exact cause of the breakdown in communication. This incident is the second near-miss at Sydney Airport in two weeks. In the preceding incident on July 27, an ATSB investigation revealed a "breakdown of coordination" when a Qantas Boeing 737 was instructed to cross a runway while a QantasLink Dash-8 was still landing on the same runway.

The ATSB is also probing this earlier near-miss. The recent events occur amidst persistent staffing shortages at Sydney's primary international airport, with over 150 flights delayed on Saturday, including approximately 95 belonging to the Qantas network and some Virgin Australia services. Some flights on Friday faced delays as well, held on the tarmac for over an hour due to separate air traffic flow management restrictions.