Sydney Airport Near-Collision Among Most Serious Runway Incidents in Australia’s History

A near-collision involving two Qantas aircraft at Sydney Airport in July has been classified as one of the most serious runway safety incidents recorded in Australia in more than two decades, according to the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB).

The ATSB on Wednesday released four preliminary reports covering six separate incidents that occurred at Sydney’s Kingsford Smith Airport between July and August. While the reports do not contain final findings or recommendations, they outline the sequence of events and key operational factors surrounding each occurrence.

ATSB Commissioner Angus Mitchell said the July incident involving two Qantas aircraft was classified as a Category A runway incursion, the highest severity level for runway safety events.

He noted that it was the most serious runway incursion recorded in Sydney and only the third Category A incident documented in Australia since ATSB record-keeping began in 2003.

“In all six incidents, safety defences operated in some form; air traffic controllers, pilots or ground crew acted to prevent more serious outcomes,” Mitchell said.

According to the preliminary report, the incident occurred on July 27 when a breakdown in coordination led an air traffic controller to clear a Qantas Boeing 737 (QF124) carrying 157 passengers and crew to cross a runway while a QantasLink Bombardier aircraft (QLK424D) carrying 55 people was in the process of landing.

The ATSB said the controller who issued the clearance had a high predicted fatigue risk level at the time. The incident also occurred during a brief handover to another controller while the original controller took a break.

Meanwhile, the Bombardier aircraft successfully stopped before reaching the intersection. When both aircraft came to a halt, they were separated by approximately 120 metres, preventing what could have been a far more serious accident.

The ATSB emphasised that multiple layers of safety protection functioned as intended, with pilots, controllers, and operational staff taking actions that helped avoid a collision.

The release of the preliminary reports comes amid broader concerns about runway safety at Australia’s busiest airport following several incidents recorded over recent months.

Investigators will continue examining the operational, procedural, and human factors involved before issuing final findings and any potential safety recommendations.

The incidents have renewed focus on air traffic management, fatigue monitoring, and airport operational procedures as aviation authorities seek to maintain high levels of safety despite increasing air traffic volumes.