A Jetstar A320 and a Qatar Airways Boeing 777 narrowly avoided a collision on the tarmac at Sydney Airport on Sunday, prompting an investigation by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau.
The incident occurred as the Jetstar plane was taxiing for takeoff to Queensland's Gold Coast. Its flight crew observed the Qatar Airways plane, which was being towed by an aircraft tug, on a crossing taxiway.
Both aircraft stopped abruptly. A cabin crew member on the Jetstar plane sustained an injury, and the connection between the Qatar Airways plane's nose gear and the tug was damaged during the sudden stop.
Jetstar, a subsidiary of Qantas, confirmed its aircraft was following Air Traffic Control instructions. A spokesperson stated that pilots braked firmly after another aircraft entered close proximity.
Airservices Australia, responsible for air traffic management, implemented departure spacing at the airport following the near-miss to manage airborne and departure demands. The agency declined to comment on the incident's cause while it is under review.
This event follows a day of widespread delays at Sydney Airport, which Airservices Australia attributed to roster constraints among air traffic controllers.