Jetstar Plane Slams Brakes to Avoid Colliding with Qatar Airways at Sydney Airport
A Jetstar flight attendant was injured on August 9 when pilots of the aircraft slammed on the brakes to avoid colliding with a Qatar Airways Boeing 777 at Sydney Airport.
The incident occurred at around 7 am as the Jetstar plane, operated by an Airbus A320, was taxiing for departure. The pilots noticed the larger Qatar Airways plane suddenly appearing to their right-hand side and both slammed on the brakes, but not before a flight attendant was sent flying.
No other passengers or crew were injured in the incident, although the connection between the nose gear of the Boeing 777 and the aircraft tug was damaged. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has opened an investigation into the incident and will be downloading data from both aircraft.
The ATSB stated that it would collect information from air traffic control as well as download data from both planes. Local media have raised concerns that staffing woes affecting air traffic control at Sydney Airport could be partially responsible for the accident, which occurred when flow restrictions were in place due to staffing shortages.