![\"Qantas](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/c4724cce43bf0c52697d70690c145fac.jpeg\")
<\/p>\nA fourth incident involving aircraft on the ground at Sydney Airport in just over three weeks is being investigated.<\/p>\n
Airservices Australia, the government-owned organisation responsible for air traffic management, said it reported the “potential traffic conflict” between two Qantas planes to safety authorities on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) said that just after 8am, Qantas flight QF589 had been heading west along taxiway Lima after landing from the Gold Coast.<\/p>\n
At the same time, Qantas flight QF405 to Melbourne had been given permission to turn onto that taxiway.<\/p>\n
The ATSB said that when the crew of the Melbourne-bound flight noticed the other plane, they stopped and allowed it to pass ahead of them.<\/p>\n
“There was no immediate risk of collision, with [QF405] braking normally before coming to a stop,” a spokesperson said.<\/p>\n
“As such the ATSB has classified this as a safety “incident”, rather than a “serious incident”, but has elected to conduct an investigation to understand the potential conflicting instructions to the flight crews.”<\/p>\n
Qantas said its aircraft had been cleared to proceed following instructions from air traffic control.<\/p>\n
The airline also said it would support the ATSB’s investigation.<\/p>\n
Fourth incident<\/p>\n
Airservices Australia says each incident is being investigated on its individual facts. (ABC News: John Gunn)<\/p>\n
It is the fourth time conflicting instructions have been relayed to planes on Sydney Airport’s tarmac in just over three weeks.<\/p>\n
On July 27, a Qantas 737 was cleared to cross the main runway, where a QantasLink flight had been landing.<\/p>\n
A Jetstar cabin crew member was injured two weeks later, when the plane they were in was forced to slam on its brakes<\/a> to avoid hitting a Boeing 777 under tow.<\/p>\n