Sydney Airport Investigates Four Near-Miss Incidents
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau is examining runway safety at Sydney Airport following a series of close calls, with a focus on air traffic control staffing.
Sydney Airport is under investigation by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) following four runway near-miss incidents over a three-month period. The ATSB released preliminary findings on September 30, detailing events that have raised concerns about air traffic control operations.
The first incident occurred on July 27, when a Qantas Boeing 737 was cleared to cross a runway while a QantasLink Dash 8 was in the process of landing. This was followed on August 9 by an event where a Jetstar Airbus A320 had to perform an abrupt stop to avoid a Qatar Airways Boeing 777 being towed across its path. A flight attendant on the Jetstar aircraft sustained a fractured wrist due to the sudden braking.
Later the same day, August 9, a Qantas Boeing 737 received clearance to cross a runway just as a Virgin Australia 737 was cleared for takeoff. The fourth incident took place nine days later, on August 18, when a Qantas Airbus A321 had to brake while taxiing to permit another Qantas 737 to pass in front of it.
In response to the investigations, a Sydney Airport spokesperson stated that safety is their highest priority and that the airport will support the Minister and Airservices in addressing the preliminary findings. The airport awaits the final reports and any recommendations from the ATSB.
Investigators have identified staffing levels in Sydney Airport's control tower as a recurring area of inquiry, though a direct link to the incidents has not yet been established. ATSB Chief Commissioner Angus Mitchell noted that the investigations will assess the impact of staff resourcing pressures, including the combining of operational roles, reliance on overtime, and the conduct of training or supervision concurrently with operational duties.
Concerns about controller fatigue have also been raised, with the ATSB examining the effectiveness of existing measures to manage this risk. Mitchell cautioned that the findings should be viewed within the context of Sydney Airport being the country's most complex airport. The ATSB analysis also indicated that Sydney Airport has experienced the highest rate of ground conflicts per aircraft movement among major Australian airports in the post-COVID era, approximately 20% above the national average.
