- A Jetstar A320 and a Qatar Airways Boeing 777 narrowly avoided colliding on the tarmac at Sydney airport on Sunday (August 10, 2026), prompting an investigation by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB).
- The Jetstar plane was taxiing for takeoff to Queensland state’s Gold Coast when its crew saw the Qatar Airways plane, being towed by an aircraft tug, very close on a crossing taxiway.
A Jetstar A320 and a Qatar Airways Boeing 777 narrowly avoided a collision on the tarmac at Sydney airport on August 10, 2026, leading to an investigation by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB).1
The Jetstar aircraft was taxiing for takeoff to Queensland's Gold Coast when its crew spotted the Qatar Airways plane being towed by an aircraft tug on a crossing taxiway.2
According to the ATSB, both aircraft were stopped abruptly to avert disaster. A cabin crew member on the Jetstar flight sustained injuries, and the Qatar Airways plane's nose gear connection to the tug was damaged.
Jetstar, the budget arm of Qantas, is also conducting its own investigation. A spokesperson stated, “Our aircraft was following instructions by Air Traffic Control when the pilots were forced to brake firmly after another aircraft came in close proximity.”
In response to the near-miss, Airservices Australia, the federal agency managing air traffic, implemented “departure spacing” to safely manage projected airborne and departure demands. This incident follows a day of widespread delays at the airport due to roster constraints affecting air traffic controllers.
“The Jetstar plane was taxiing for takeoff to Queensland's Gold Coast when its crew spotted the Qatar Airways aircraft, being towed by a tug, dangerously close on a crossing taxiway. The incident occurred Sunday, prompting the Australian Transport Safety Bureau to launch an investigation.”
