Two airport workers stood down after two planes almost collide at Sydney Airport

By FARID FARID FOR AUSTRALIAN ASSOCIATED PRESS Published: 00:37, 10 August 2026 | Updated: 00:40, 10 August 2026 The federal government is demanding answers after Jetstar and Qatar Airways planes were involved in a potentially disastrous incident. A Jetstar flight was preparing to depart Sydney Airport for the Gold Coast when it almost collided with a Qatar Airways plane at 7am on Sunday. The Jetstar Airbus 320 pilot was forced to brake suddenly to avoid a collision with the Qatari plane on the tarmac. The Qatar Airways Boeing 777, which was not carrying any passengers, was being towed by an aircraft tug and received minor damage. A Jetstar spokesperson said its aircraft was following instructions from air traffic controllers when the pilots were forced to brake firmly as another aircraft came into 'close proximity'. Transport Minister Catherine King said the series of disruptions over consecutive days at Sydney Airport, with grounded flights and lengthy delays compounded by Sunday's near miss, were not good enough. 'Airservices Australia needs to be better at managing these disruptions,' she said. 'They cause significant challenges to passengers, staff and airlines.' Jetstar and Qatar planes were involved in a near-miss while taxiing on the runway at Sydney Airport on Sunday Transport Minister Catherine King said that grounded flights and lengthy delays. compounded by Sunday's near miss at Sydney Airport, were not good enough The minister confirmed a meeting with Airservices Australia would take place on Monday. The government-owned body is responsible managing air traffic in more than 10 per cent of the world's airspace. King would not elaborate on Sunday's low-speed near collision, with the Australian Transport Safety Bureau launching an investigation. The bureau's commissioner Angus Mitchell said flight crew, tug operators, air traffic controllers and other witnesses would be interviewed, while relevant footage would be reviewed. 'It certainly is a serious incident ... this is the second one within two weeks,' he told ABC News on Monday. 'Whether it was a breakdown in communication, in actually getting the right message to the right people or the coordination of it, we're yet to ascertain.' A ground controller and tug operator have been stood down. Air traffic control was reportedly operating under restricted hours between 6am and 8am on Sunday, reducing the number of flights arriving and departing due to staffing shortages. Dozens of passengers were onboard the Jetstar flight bound for the Gold Coast An injured Jetstar crew member received medical attention at the scene on Sunday, while no passengers were injured. The union representing air traffic controllers, Civil Air Australia, has been contacted for a comment. Sunday's incident followed delays to more than 150 flights passing through Sydney on Saturday as airport operations struggled due to a lack of personnel.