A Virgin Australia jet aborted take-off at Sydney Airport after its crew spotted a Qantas aircraft crossing ahead, marking the third serious ground safety incident there in less than three weeks.
The latest event, now being investigated by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB), happened shortly after 10am on August 9 and involved two Boeing 737s preparing for separate domestic services from Sydney.
The ATSB said that Virgin Australia flight VA555 was bound for Perth when air traffic control cleared it “for a full-length takeoff” on runway 34L.
“As the crew applied thrust for takeoff, they observed the Qantas 737 begin to cross the runway ahead of them from taxiway Lima,” the ATSB said.
The Qantas aircraft, operating as QF728 to Ayers Rock Airport, was also acting on an air traffic control instruction, according to the ATSB.
“The Qantas crew reported having received a clearance from ATC to cross the runway.”
The Virgin pilots immediately reduced thrust and brought the aircraft to a stop on the runway as air traffic control cancelled the takeoff clearance.
Once the Qantas aircraft had cleared the active runway, the Virgin jet was cleared again and later departed.
No-one was injured and neither aircraft was damaged.
The ATSB has classified the occurrence as an incident involving a runway incursion and rejected takeoff.
Its investigation is now in the evidence collection phase, which will include interviews, recorded data and other relevant material.
The bureau said a final report will be released once the investigation is complete, and if any critical safety issue emerges before then, relevant parties will be notified straight away.
Virgin Australia said it had notified the ATSB under its normal procedures and would assist with the inquiry, while Qantas said it would also co-operate with investigators.
Airservices Australia said it is working with the ATSB to “investigate recent incidents involving aircraft moving on the ground at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport”.
“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,” Airservices Australia said.
The incident adds to growing concern about airside safety at Sydney Airport, where two other ground-related near misses are already being examined by investigators.
On Sunday morning, a Jetstar A320 and a Qatar Airways 777 under tow were involved in a near ground collision at the airport. Two airport workers were stood down after that event.
Just two weeks earlier, on July 27, a QantasLink flight and a Qantas flight were involved in another near miss on the tarmac.
The run of incidents has intensified attention on pressure inside Sydney’s air traffic control system, with staffing shortages and shift coverage already under scrutiny.
Airservices Australia has been working to strengthen controller numbers in Sydney, where shortages have forced staff to cover frequent shifts.
Airservices Australia chief executive Rob Sharp has already been called in by the transport minister to provide assurances that operations at Sydney will run more smoothly over the coming month.