Qantas taxiway near-miss prompts fourth ATSB probe at Sydney airport in a month
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Two Qantas aircraft were directed to the same taxiway intersection at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport on Friday, prompting the Australian Transport Safety Bureau to open its fourth investigation into a close call at the airport in less than a month. No damage or injuries were reported. The ATSB said there was no immediate risk of collision but will examine contributing factors similar to three earlier incidents.
Key Facts
- The Australian Transport Safety Bureau has opened its fourth investigation in less than a month into a close call at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport.
- A Qantas Airbus A321 bound for Gold Coast Airport and a Qantas Boeing 737-800 arriving from Melbourne Airport were cleared to the same taxiway intersection on Friday.
- The ATSB confirmed there was no immediate risk of collision, and no damage or injuries were reported.
- Preliminary ATSB reports will take up to eight weeks and will include interviews with air traffic controllers and flight crew, plus recorded data.
- More than 50 air traffic controllers at Sydney airport have expressed concern about the lack of time to learn complex new airspace procedures that took effect in July.
The Incident
On Friday, a Qantas Airbus A321 was cleared to taxi toward the runway for a flight to Gold Coast Airport while a Qantas Boeing 737-800 had just arrived from Melbourne Airport. Both aircraft were directed toward the same intersection on the ground at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport. The 737 was given clearance to continue along the taxiway, and the Airbus bound for the Gold Coast was permitted to turn onto it. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau confirmed there was no immediate risk of collision but launched an investigation into contributing factors. A Qantas spokesperson said the aircraft was cleared to proceed following air traffic control instructions and that the airline will support the ATSB investigation.
Investigation and Context
The ATSB will examine whether contributing factors were similar to three other close-call incidents at Sydney airport in the past month. Preliminary reports will take up to eight weeks, with evidence to include interviews with air traffic controllers and flight crew and retrieved recorded data. The latest incident follows a July 27 event in which a Qantas 737 was cleared to cross a runway just as a QantasLink turboprop was descending, and the 737 stopped abruptly after crossing the safety hold point. More than 50 air traffic controllers at Sydney airport have expressed concern about the lack of time to learn new, highly detailed airspace procedures that came into effect in July.
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Qantas taxiway near-miss prompts fourth ATSB probe at Sydney airport in a month
