ATSB probes near-miss between Jetstar and Qatar Airways at Sydney Airport

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has initiated an investigation into a near-miss incident at Sydney Airport involving a Jetstar Airbus A320 and a Qatar Airways Boeing 777. The event occurred on Sunday while the Jetstar flight was taxiing for departure to the Gold Coast, resulting in abrupt stops that injured a cabin crew member and damaged the nose gear connection of the towed Boeing 777.

According to the ATSB, the Qatar Airways aircraft was being towed by an aircraft tug when it came into close proximity with the Jetstar plane on a crossing taxiway. The regulator stated that both aircraft were stopped abruptly, leading to the injury of a Jetstar crew member moving through the cabin. The injured individual was treated by paramedics at the scene.

The ATSB is currently gathering data from both aircraft and air traffic control records, while also interviewing flight crew and tug operators to determine the cause of the incident. The safety regulator has issued a call for witnesses at the airport to submit any visual evidence of the event to assist with the inquiry.

Jetstar, a low-cost subsidiary of Qantas, confirmed it is conducting its own internal investigation. A spokesperson for the airline stated that its aircraft was following air traffic control instructions when pilots were forced to brake firmly after another aircraft came into close proximity. There was no immediate statement from Qatar Airways, the flag carrier of Qatar.

The incident has contributed to flight delays at Sydney Airport, Australia’s busiest aviation hub. Airservices Australia confirmed the disruptions, which compounded existing operational challenges. The airport had experienced widespread delays the previous day after the government agency authorised "departure spacing" due to roster issues with air traffic controllers.