Third near-collision at Sydney Airport sparks investigation after Qantas and Virgin Australia planes hit runway at the same time

By JOANNA HYNDS FOR DAILY MAIL AUSTRALIA Published: 01:48, 14 August 2026 | Updated: 01:48, 14 August 2026 A third near-collision between planes at Sydney Airport in less than two weeks has been reported, prompting an investigation into operations.  Virgin Australia's Perth-bound flight VA555 was due to take-off from Sydney Airport on Sunday. But its preparations halted when Qantas flight QF728, bound for Ayers Rock Airport, suddenly entered the runway. That same day, a Jetstar flight narrowly avoided a Qatar Airways aircraft being towed by a tug truck, resulting in delays to more than 100 flights.  Just two weeks before, on July 27, a QantasLink flight from Canberra and a Qantas aircraft from New Zealand were also involved in a near miss.  The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) confirmed on Thursday that it would investigate the incident between the Virgin Australia and Qantas planes on Sunday. It said the Virgin Australia flight had been cleared by air traffic control for take-off from the runway.  'As the crew applied thrust for take-off, they saw a Qantas 737 crossing the runway ahead of them on taxiway Lima,' the bureau said in a statement to the Daily Mail. A Virgin Australia flight aborted its take-off on Sunday after a Qantas aircraft arrived on the runway at the same time (file image) The incident occurred on the same day a Jetstar flight narrowly avoided a Qatar Airways aircraft being towed across the airport 'The Qantas crew reported they had also been cleared by air traffic control to cross the runway. 'Upon seeing the Qantas aircraft, the Virgin Australia crew reduced thrust and stopped their plane about one kilometre from the intersection. 'At the same time, air traffic control broadcast a cancellation of the Virgin aircraft's take-off clearance.' Both Virgin Australia and Qantas confirmed to the Mail that the aircraft had both been cleared and said they were participating in the ATSB's investigation. The probe will involve interviewing staff who were involved, retrieving and reviewing recorded data, and gathering other relevant information.  Airservices Australia said in a statement that it was working with the ATSB to investigate the recent incidents. 'Airservices Australia is working with the Australian Transport Safety Bureau to investigate recent incidents involving aircraft moving on the ground at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport,' a spokesperson said. '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.' Civil Air president Scott Nugent tied the incident to staffing issues, claiming Sydney Airport's control tower lacked resources. 'They're just not putting enough in... we can't just put people in and expect them to be working the next day,' he told AAP.  Airservices Australia says it is recruiting more air traffic controllers than ever before and has added about 100 controllers in the past twelve months.