The nation’s air safety boss has questioned why it took four days for another safety incident at Sydney Airport to be reported to investigators.
Air Traffic Safety Bureau (ATSB) chief commissioner Angus Mitchell told the ABC he was only notified of Sunday’s incident about lunchtime on Thursday.
The most recent incident last Sunday involved two planes more than kilometre away crossing the same runway ahead of take-off.
Air Services Australia said the two aircraft were never in close proximity and was working with the ATSB to investigate the incident.
“The two aircraft didn’t come within really probably around a thousand metres of each other. But, notwithstanding that, it shouldn’t have occurred,” Mr Mitchell told on 702 ABC Sydney.
“We’re still trying to understand exactly what the delay in the reporting to us was.”
He said the delay may have been caused over confusion about whether the incident was a training exercise.
“But it’s not unusual to have trainees in all types of aviation to, at some stage, get exposure to live environments under supervision,” he said.
Chief commissioner Angus Mitchell said ATSB would look at the circumstances leading to the incidents. (Supplied: ATSB)
It comes after two near-misses at Sydney Airport in the space of a fortnight.
The first on July 27 saw a Qantas Link and Qantas flight avoid a collision.
The second, also last Sunday about three hours before the latest incident to come to light, saw a Jetstar crew member injured after pilots were forced to slam on the brakes to avoid colliding into a Qatar Airlines flight.
The Jetstar flight had to brake on the tarmac of Sydney Airport to avoid colliding with a Qatar Airlines flight on Sunday. (Supplied)
Two ground crew involved were stood down and underwent blood and alcohol testing as part of the ATSB investigation.
The incidents saw renewed calls for change from the Civil Air, whose president Scott Nugent said there were air traffic controllers in Australia and it was putting pressure on services.
The near-misses resulted in Airservices Australia CEO Rob Sharp summoned to Canberra to meet with Transport Minister Catherine King.