The Australian Transport Safety Bureau is investigating a taxiing conflict at Sydney Airport involving a Qantas Airbus A321 and a Qantas Boeing 737, with the crew of the departing A321 stopping after spotting the arriving jet approaching from the left. The incident took place on 18 August at about 08:09 AEST and caused no collision, injuries or damage.
The Boeing 737, operating Qantas flight QF589 from the Gold Coast, had landed on runway 34R and was taxiing west on taxiway Lima with clearance to turn right at taxiway Bravo. The Airbus A321, operating Qantas flight QF405 to Melbourne, was taxiing south on taxiway Charlie with clearance to turn right onto taxiway Lima. The bureau has classified the event as an active occurrence investigation, with evidence collection underway.
Interviews with the involved air traffic controllers and flight crews are planned, along with review of recorded data and other relevant material. The case is the fourth Sydney Airport safety incident to come under ATSB scrutiny in less than a month, sharpening attention on ground movement procedures and air traffic control at Australia’s busiest airport. The bureau has not identified a common cause and has not released a final report.