Australia’s transport safety authorities are investigating a third runway-related incident at Sydney Airport in less than three weeks after a Virgin Australia Boeing 737 operating VA555 aborted takeoff when a Qantas aircraft was crossing the runway. The event took place on 9 August and involved Qantas flight QF728, deepening scrutiny of operations at the country’s busiest airport after two earlier close calls.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau is examining how the aircraft were cleared and whether the runway crossing procedure broke down. The Virgin crew stopped the aircraft about 1 km from the Qantas jet after seeing it ahead, while the Qantas crew believed they had clearance to cross. ATSB chief Angus Mitchell described the incident as one that should not have happened.
The latest case follows a near-collision on the tarmac between a Jetstar Airbus A320 and a Qatar Airways Boeing 777 on 9 August, as well as a 27 July runway incident involving two Qantas aircraft. Airservices Australia and the ATSB are now under pressure to review coordination, staffing and traffic-control procedures at Sydney.