The Australian transport safety watchdog has launched an investigation into a third concerning near-collision between two aircraft at Sydney Airport, an incident that unfolded mere hours after a widely publicized event that had already ignited significant apprehension regarding air traffic control protocols. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) confirmed late on Thursday that it was probing a second “runway incursion” that transpired on Sunday, August 9th, marking the third such safety lapse at Australia’s busiest aviation hub within a span of less than three weeks. All three incidents are currently under rigorous examination by the ATSB.
The most recent occurrence involved a Virgin Australia flight, VA555, destined for Perth, Western Australia, which was compelled to abort its take-off sequence when a Qantas aircraft, flight QF728 bound for Ayers Rock Airport in the Northern Territory, began to cross the runway directly in its path. Both aircraft involved in this tense encounter were Boeing 737s. According to the ATSB, the crew of the Qantas flight reported receiving clearance from air traffic controllers at Sydney to proceed with crossing the active runway. However, the vigilance of the Virgin flight crew proved critical; upon observing the Qantas plane’s movement, they immediately reduced thrust and brought their aircraft to a complete stop, narrowly averting a catastrophic collision.
This alarming incident occurred only a few hours after another high-profile near-miss, where a Jetstar plane narrowly avoided colliding with a Qatar Airways aircraft on the tarmac. That event had already drawn national attention and intensified concerns about the severe and ongoing shortage of air traffic controllers at Sydney Airport. Furthermore, a prior near-miss, also attributed to air traffic control issues, had taken place at Sydney on July 27th. In that instance, a Qantas flight was given clearance to cross a runway directly in front of another Qantas aircraft that had just landed.
In response to the escalating situation, a spokesperson for Airservices Australia, the commonwealth-owned entity responsible for managing the nation’s airspace, stated on Thursday night that they are fully cooperating with the ATSB in its investigations into all three incidents. The spokesperson emphasized that “Safety is Airservices’ top priority, and we are committed to working with all stakeholders, including airlines, ground handlers, regulators, and airport operators, to keep the travelling public safe.”
The series of near-misses comes amidst existing disruptions at Sydney Airport, with travelers already experiencing significant delays. Airservices Australia has attributed these delays to a critical dearth of qualified air traffic controllers, a problem rooted in a pandemic-era incentive program in 2021 that led to a substantial exodus of experienced staff. Although Airservices subsequently initiated a large-scale recruitment drive, the pace of new hires has been insufficient to meet the escalating demand. This shortfall is partly due to the rigorous aptitude tests new recruits must pass and the extensive 18-month training period required in Melbourne. Compounding these challenges, Airservices is also under additional pressure from the impending launch of the new Western Sydney Airport and its recent assumption of airspace management responsibilities at Ballina airport in northern New South Wales. Consequently, air traffic controllers are reportedly understaffed and experiencing exhaustion, as conveyed by their union.
Federal Transport Minister Catherine King, after summoning Airservices chief executive Rob Sharp for a meeting in Canberra on Monday, publicly declared the disruptions “unacceptable.” Despite this, the Minister expressed confidence that Airservices Australia is “doing everything they can to get on top of this,” including implementing short-term changes to rostering practices. King also announced that an additional 95 individuals are expected to be endorsed as air traffic controllers by the end of the year, a measure aimed at alleviating the critical staffing shortages.
