A Jetstar passenger jet was forced to brake suddenly to avoid hitting a Qatar Airways plane being towed across a taxiway at Sydney Airport on Sunday, injuring a crew member and prompting a safety investigation.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau has opened an investigation into a near-collision involving two aircraft at Sydney Airport on Sunday morning. A Jetstar Airbus A320, which was preparing to taxi for a flight to the Gold Coast, encountered a Qatar Airways Boeing 777 that was being towed by an aircraft tug across a crossing taxiway. The Jetstar pilots applied emergency braking to prevent a collision, causing disruption at Australia's busiest airport.
The incident resulted in injuries to a Jetstar cabin crew member who was thrown during the sudden stop. The Boeing 777 also sustained damage to the connection between its nose gear and the tug pulling it. Authorities are investigating multiple factors, including communications between air traffic control and both aircraft, as well as the tug operator's compliance with instructions.
A Jetstar spokesperson stated the aircraft was following air traffic control instructions when the pilots were forced to brake after the other aircraft came into close proximity. However, an unauthorised airport official suggested early indications pointed to the tug operator not following air traffic control directions. Qatar Airways has not yet commented on the incident.
Following the near-miss, Airservices Australia implemented departure spacing measures to manage airborne and departure operations at the airport. The regulator is appealing for witnesses with video footage of the incident to come forward. The incident contributed to flight delays at Sydney Airport, with operations already strained due to air traffic controller roster constraints on the previous day.
