Authorities in Sydney are investigating the fourth aviation incident in just over three weeks
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) is investigating the fourth incident involving aircraft on the ground at Sydney Airport in just over three weeks. This time, a potential conflict arose between two Qantas aircraft on the taxiway.
According to ABC News Australia, Airservices Australia—the government agency responsible for air traffic control—notified safety authorities on Tuesday of a “potential traffic conflict” between two Qantas aircraft.
According to the ATSB, shortly after 8:00 a.m., Qantas Flight QF589, which had arrived from the Gold Coast, was moving westbound on Taxiway Lima. At the same time, Flight QF405 to Melbourne was cleared to turn onto the same taxiway. The crew of the aircraft bound for Melbourne spotted the other aircraft, stopped, and let it pass.
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The agency emphasized that there was no immediate risk of a collision: QF405 braked normally and came to a stop. The event was classified as an incident rather than a serious incident; however, the ATSB decided to conduct an investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding the potentially conflicting instructions given to the crews. Qantas stated that the aircraft received clearance to proceed in accordance with air traffic control instructions and expressed its willingness to cooperate with the investigation.
This is the fourth instance of conflicting instructions being given to aircraft at Sydney Airport in just over three weeks. On July 27, a Qantas Boeing 737 was cleared to cross the main runway while a QantasLink flight was landing. Two weeks later, a Jetstar flight attendant was injured when the plane braked sharply to avoid a collision with a Boeing 777 that was being towed. Later that same day, a Virgin flight was initially cleared for takeoff but the clearance was quickly rescinded because a Qantas aircraft had been cleared to cross the same runway more than 1,200 meters ahead.
The ATSB is investigating all of these incidents and will examine whether they share common factors. Airservices Australia stated that the incidents occurred under different circumstances and that the organization will continue to analyze operational events and take the necessary measures to maintain safe operations.
