Investigators from the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) have released preliminary findings on a series of runway incidents at Sydney Airport over the past three months. The airport has experienced four near‑miss events involving passenger aircraft, raising concerns about air‑traffic control staffing and fatigue.
Timeline of incidents
The first incident occurred on July 27 when a Qantas Boeing 737 was cleared to cross a runway in front of a QantasLink Dash 8 that was landing. On August 9, a Jetstar Airbus A320 had to brake abruptly to avoid a Qatar Airways Boeing 777 being towed across its path, resulting in a flight attendant fracturing her wrist during the sudden stop. That same day, a Qantas Boeing 737 was again cleared to cross a runway in front of a Virgin Australia 737 that had just been cleared for take‑off. Nine days later, a Qantas Airbus A321 was forced to brake while taxiing to allow another Qantas 737 to pass.
ATSB response and focus
ATSB Chief Commissioner Angus Mitchell said the investigations will examine “staff resourcing pressures within the tower, specifically the practice of combining operational roles, the routine reliance on overtime to fill shifts and training or supervision activities being conducted alongside operational duties.” He added that fatigue is a concern, though it does not necessarily mean controllers were tired at the time of the incidents.
Mitchell emphasized that the findings should be viewed “in the context of Sydney Airport being the most complex in the country,” noting that the airport recorded the highest rate of ground conflicts per aircraft movement among Australia’s major airports in the post‑COVID period, about 20% above the national average.
Airport’s stance
Sydney Airport said safety remains its “highest priority” and pledged to support the Minister and Airservices as they work through the preliminary findings and any recommended actions. The airport awaits the final ATSB reports and any subsequent recommendations.
While staffing levels at the control tower have emerged as a recurring area of inquiry, investigators have not yet determined whether these factors directly contributed to the recent incidents.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
