A Jetstar Airbus A320 nearly collided with a Qatar Airways Boeing 777 at Sydney Airport on Sunday morning. The Jetstar pilot performed sudden braking whilst taxiing to avoid a collision, injuring a cabin crew member who was moving around the cabin and who received treatment from paramedics.
A Jetstar spokesperson said their aircraft was following Air Traffic Control instructions when the pilot was forced to perform hard braking after another aircraft came into very close proximity. The Qatar Airways aircraft was being towed by an aircraft tug and was very close on the intersecting taxiway when the incident occurred.
According to the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB), the Jetstar A320 was taxiing for a flight to Gold Coast when the aircraft crew spotted the Qatar Airways Boeing 777. The ATSB noted that there was damage to the connection between the nose gear of the 777 and the tug vehicle after both aircraft came to an abrupt stop.
The ATSB launched an investigation into the incident and collected data from both aircraft and air traffic controllers. The agency also interviewed the aircraft crew and the tug operator, whilst requesting witnesses at the airport to submit video recordings of the incident. Airservices Australia reported that flights at Sydney Airport experienced delays following the incident.
An unnamed official said preliminary information indicated that the tug carrying the Qatar Airways aircraft did not follow instructions from the air traffic controller. Qatar Airways has not provided a response to requests for comment on the incident.
