Sydney Airport Near Collision Probed After Jetstar, Qatar Airways Incident
A near collision occurred at Sydney Airport on Sunday, August 9, 2026, when a Jetstar Airbus A320 was forced to apply sudden brakes to avoid crashing into a Qatar Airways Boeing 777 that was being towed by an aircraft tug on a crossing taxiway. The incident, which injured a Jetstar cabin crew member and damaged the connection between the 777 nose gear and aircraft tug, is being investigated by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB). Local air traffic was disrupted, with flights experiencing delays, according to Airservices Australia.
The ATSB is collecting data from both aircraft, air traffic control, and interviewing crew and tug operators to determine the cause of the near collision. Preliminary reports suggest that the ground tug pulling the Qatar Airways jet did not follow air traffic control instructions while crossing an active taxiway. The regulator has called for witnesses at the airport to send in any video of the near collision.
The Jetstar Airbus A320 was taxiing for a flight to the Gold Coast on Sunday morning when its crew observed the Qatar Airways Boeing 777 in close proximity on a crossing taxiway. The abrupt stop caused by the sudden braking injured a Jetstar cabin crew member, who was later treated by paramedics.
This incident is under investigation, with the ATSB working to determine the cause of the near collision. The Australian safety regulator’s investigation will examine the actions of the aircraft tug operator, air traffic control, and the crew of both aircraft to determine what led to the incident.
The incident occurred on a day when Sydney Airport was operating normally, with no prior indications of any issues. The ATSB’s investigation will provide more information on the cause of the near collision and any measures that can be taken to prevent similar incidents in the future.
