The chief executive of Airservices Australia has declared safety his organisation's top priority as federal investigators examine a runway near-miss at Sydney Airport involving two Qantas passenger planes, an incident that authorities say could have ended far worse.
The close call occurred on 27 July, when a Qantas aircraft that had just landed was cleared to cross Sydney Airport's main runway at the same moment another Qantas plane was still landing. No one was injured and neither aircraft sustained damage, but the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has since launched a formal investigation into what it described as a "breakdown of coordination".
What Happened on the Runway
The two aircraft involved were a Boeing 737 and a DHC-8. Qantas has defended its flight crews, stating both planes were operating under instructions received from air traffic control at the time. The airline says its pilots were cleared to proceed before the near-collision unfolded.
ATSB chief commissioner and chief executive Angus Mitchell said investigators are now examining the experience levels of air traffic control staff on duty that day, as well as how long they had been working before the incident occurred.
"We do know that there has been some significant stresses on the entire ecosystem," Mitchell said. "Our job is to understand whether any of those stresses played a role in what occurred."
Mitchell also acknowledged the gravity of what might have been, saying he was thankful both aircraft came to a stop before reaching the intersection point. "The potential for something far worse is certainly there," he said.
Airservices Australia Responds to Safety Concerns
Airservices Australia is the government-owned body responsible for managing the safe flow of air traffic across the country. Speaking at an aviation summit in Sydney, chief executive Rob Sharp said every incident of this nature is taken seriously by his organisation.
"Safety's number one for us," Sharp said, adding that Airservices operates a "well-honed safety management system" that includes dedicated fatigue management protocols for staff.
Sharp sought to reassure the public that fatiguing shift conditions affect only a small proportion of the organisation's roster. "It's actually quite a small portion of our shifts (that) would be deemed to be fatiguing," he said, while also confirming that staff involved in incidents receive support through established internal processes.
How Common Are Runway Near-Misses in Australia?
Mitchell revealed that incidents of this type are not isolated events. Around 60 similar reports are filed across the country each year, though only a small number are ultimately classified as serious safety occurrences.
He also explained the layered nature of runway safety, noting that while air traffic controllers rely on a digital coordination system to manage aircraft movements on the ground, pilots themselves carry a shared responsibility — including maintaining a clear view of their path ahead before proceeding.
Investigation Ongoing, Report Being Prepared
The ATSB is now preparing a formal report into the incident. Investigators are expected to consider a range of contributing factors, including staffing conditions, fatigue, and coordination procedures on the day.
Sydney Airport is Australia's busiest aviation hub, handling an enormous volume of domestic and international traffic daily, which places significant operational pressure on air traffic management systems and personnel alike.
Both Airservices Australia and the ATSB have indicated they will cooperate fully with the investigation process. Sharp confirmed that protocols are firmly in place to handle the welfare of staff involved in safety incidents, as well as to prevent recurrence.
The findings of the ATSB's report are expected to be made public in due course, potentially prompting a wider review of runway coordination practices at the nation's major airports.
