Third Sydney Airport take-off incident investigated by safety body

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) is probing a third runway incident at Sydney Airport. This follows a Jetstar flight abruptly applying brakes during take-off to evade a collision with a Qatar Airways aircraft being towed on the ground. The ATSB will interview Virgin and Qantas crews and examine flight data recordings.

On Sunday, Virgin Australia Flight VA555, bound for Perth, and Qantas Flight QF728, heading to Ayers Rock Airport, were involved in the incident. ATC had cleared the Virgin Australia 737 for a full-length take-off on runway 34L when it observed the Qantas 737 crossing the runway from taxiway Lima. The Qantas crew reported receiving clearance from ATC to cross the runway, but the Virgin Australia crew decreased thrust, bringing the aircraft to a halt.

ATC subsequently canceled VA555's take-off clearance as the Qantas aircraft moved away from the runway. The ATSB will probe the incident, with Air Services Australia stating the aircraft never came close to each other. Qantas and Virgin Australia expressed support for the ATSB's investigation. Earlier, Jetstar Flight JQ402 had to brake sharply to prevent hitting a Qatar Airways 777 being towed on the tarmac, a near-miss that could have been far worse.

ATSB chief commissioner Angus Mitchell emphasized that such runway incidents should not occur, acknowledging the well-coordinated aviation sector in Australia. Two airport workers were temporarily reassigned following the near collision, which left a Jetstar crew member injured. Two weeks prior, on July 27, a QantasLink flight and a Qantas plane narrowly avoided a tarmac incident. Recent workforce shortages and rostering issues have contributed to delays at Sydney Airport.