Traffic controller stood down after near-miss at Sydney Airport

What it is about

Who published it, and when

How it spread - 65 original reports, 51 reprints

1. Sun, 9 August 2026

   15 reports
   • ABC News (Australia)00:28edited after publishing ×3
     Traffic controller stood down after near-miss at Sydney Airport

     previouslyPlanes in tarmac near-miss at Sydney Airport

     A Jetstar A320 was forced to brake suddenly to avoid colliding with a Boeing 777 on the tarmac at Sydney Airport, with both planes stopping abruptly in an incident that injured a cabin crew worker.

   • The Guardian World02:49
     ‘Not enough air traffic controllers’: safety concerns at Sydney airport after Jetstar and Qatar planes involved in near-miss

     Planes narrowly avoid collision on tarmac with Jetstar A320 forced to ‘brake firmly’ as Qatar Boeing 777 towed into its path Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast Two planes have narrowly avoided a collision on the tarmac of Australia’s busiest airport as it struggles with staff shortages. The Jetstar and Qatar Airways planes almost collided at Sydney airport at 7am on Sunday. Continue reading...

   • cessnockadvertiser.com.au04:08first to report
     Planes' near-miss probed as airport battles staff woes

     Two planes have avoided a nasty crash after they almost collided on the tarmac at Australia's busiest airport.

     14 reprints

     • queanbeyanage.com.au9 Aug, 04:08their copy
     • northweststar.com.au9 Aug, 04:08their copy
     • maitlandmercury.com.au9 Aug, 04:08their copy
     • thecourier.com.au9 Aug, 04:08their copy
     • camdencourier.com.au9 Aug, 04:08their copy
     • irrigator.com.au9 Aug, 04:08their copy
     • southernhighlandnews.com.au9 Aug, 04:08their copy
     • gloucesteradvocate.com.au9 Aug, 04:08their copy
     • portnews.com.au9 Aug, 04:08their copy
     • singletonargus.com.au9 Aug, 04:08their copy
     • yasstribune.com.au9 Aug, 04:08their copy
     • portstephensexaminer.com.au9 Aug, 04:08their copy
     • oberonreview.com.au9 Aug, 04:08their copy
     • cootamundraherald.com.au9 Aug, 04:08their copy
   • Channel News Asia04:34removed by the outlet
     'Near collision' at Sydney Airport triggers investigation

     A Jetstar cabin crew member was injured after the pilot braked suddenly to avoid colliding with a Qatar Airways plane at Sydney Airport.

   • South China Morning Post04:51
     Jetstar plane narrowly avoids crashing into Qatar Airways flight at Sydney airport

     Safety regulators launched an investigation on Sunday into a “near collision” between two passenger aircraft at Australia’s busiest airport that injured a crew member. The incident, which involved a Jetstar pilot being forced to apply sudden brakes to avoid crashing into a Qatar Airways jet on Sunday morning, disrupted operations at Sydney airport. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) said a Jetstar Airbus A320 was taxiing for a flight to the Gold Coast on Sunday morning when its...

   • bssnews.net05:45
     'Near collision' at Sydney Airport triggers investigation

     SYDNEY, Aug 9, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Safety regulators launched an investigation on Sunday into a "near collision" between two passenger

     1 reprint

     • omanobserver.om9 Aug, 05:30their copy
   • brisbanetimes.com.au05:45
     Near miss at Sydney Airport

     Two aircraft were within metres of each other on Sunday morning when one was forced to brake suddenly.

   • DW Top Stories07:53
     Australia: Jetstar, Qatar Airways planes almost collide on Sydney Airport tarmac

     A flight crew member was injured in a near-miss collision on the runway at Australia's Sydney Airport. An investigation has been launched to determine what caused the incident.

     1 reprint

     • en.tempo.co9 Aug, 08:30their copy
   • Index.hr (Croatia)09:08
     Za dlaku izbjegnut sudar aviona u Sydneyju

     POKRENUTA je istraga o zamalo izbjegnutom sudaru zrakoplova Jetstara i Qatar Airwaysa na pisti u Sydneyju u kojem je jedna osoba ozlijeđena.

     2 reprints

     • Telegram.hr (Croatia)9 Aug, 09:31their copy
     • N1 Info (Croatia)9 Aug, 09:46their copy
   • 24sata (Croatia)09:16
     Za dlaku izbjegli sudar aviona u Sydneyju, ozlijeđen član osoblja

     Jedan član kabinskog osoblja u zrakoplovu Jetstara ozlijeđen je, a oštećena je i veza između prednjeg stajnog trapa zrakoplova Qatar Airwaysa i tegljača za vuču zrakoplova, navodi ATSB.

   • ČT24 (Czechia)09:59
     V Sydney málem došlo ke srážce dvou letadel

     Na letišti v australském Sydney se v neděli ráno těsně vyhnuly srážce dvě letadla. Jednalo se o Boeing 777 aerolinky Qatar Airlines a Airbus A320 australské společnosti Jetstar. Incident vyšetřuje Úřad pro bezpečnost dopravy, informovala agentura Reuters.

   • Vecernji list (Croatia)10:27
     VIDEO Opasan incident na pisti: Dva velika zrakoplova jedva izbjegla tragediju, jedna osoba ozlijeđena

     Jetstar, niskotarifna podružnica australskog nacionalnog prijevoznika Qantasa, također je priopćio da istražuje incident

   • thenationalnews.com16:30
     Qatar Airways aircraft in near-miss with Jetstar at Sydney Airport

     Second such incident in a week comes amid continuing air traffic control staffing shortages

   • ABC News (Australia)21:56edited after publishing
     Sydney Airport near miss 'could have been far more serious', ATSB boss says

     previouslyAviation bosses summoned, airport workers stood down after Sydney near-miss

     Australian Transport Safety Bureau's Chief Commissioner Angus Mitchell says pilots who avoided a near miss at Sydney Airport on Sunday morning "prevented what could have been far more serious".

   • oberonreview.com.au22:49
     Emergency meeting after near miss for planes on tarmac

     The federal government is demanding answers after Jetstar and Qatar Airways planes were involved in a potentially disastrous...

     1 reprint

     • goulburnpost.com.au9 Aug, 22:49their copy
2. Mon, 10 August 2026

   6 reports
   • 5rm.com.au01:57
     The near miss comes amid ongoing staffing and rostering problems at Sydney Airport.

     A Jetstar plane has narrowly avoided a collision with a Qatar Airways aircraft at Sydney Airport, with the two planes reportedly coming within just 50 metres of each other.

     1 reprint

     • star1063.com.au10 Aug, 01:57their copy
   • travelextra.ie03:06
     Tuggery: Tug driver being blamed for ‘near collision’ between Jetstar A320 and towed Qatar B777 at Sydney

     ATSB has launched an investigation into a near collision between a Jetstar A320 and a Qatar Airways 777 at Sydney Airport A Jetstar crew member sustained injuries and damage occurred to the aircraft tug connection The Jetstar pilot applied emergency braking to avoid a collision with the Qatar jet under tow Early information indicated theRead More

   • Die Zeit (Germany)04:16
     Australiens größter Flughafen: Zwei Beinahe-Kollisionen: Flughafen Sydney unter Druck
   • theage.com.au07:15
     Crisis meeting called after two near-misses at Sydney Airport

     The federal transport minister is calling a crisis meeting after two near-misses within a fortnight at Sydney Airport.

   • The Guardian World07:22edited after publishing
     Two workers temporarily stood down after near-miss collision at Sydney airport

     previouslyTwo workers were temporarily stood down after near-miss collision at Sydney Airport

     Transport minister says improved staff rostering will be in place from next month after ‘unacceptable’ delays and incident involving Qatar Airways and Jetstar planes Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast The transport minister, Catherine King, has said improved staff rostering will be in place at Sydney airport from next month after “unacceptable” delays and a near-miss collision that resulted in two workers being...

   • Die Zeit (Germany)08:26
     Australien: Zusammenstoß zweier Flugzeuge am Flughafen Sydney knapp verhindert

     URL changednow www.zeit.de/gesellschaft/zeitgeschehen/2026-08/flughafen-sydney-beinahe-zusammenstoss-jetstar-qatar-airways-gxe

     Das zweite Mal binnen zwei Wochen ist es beinahe zu einer Kollision von Flugzeugen am Flughafen Sydney gekommen. Nun wurden zwei Mitarbeiter suspendiert.

3. Wed, 12 August 2026

   1 report
   • The Guardian World15:00edited after publishing
     What’s behind Sydney airport’s heavy delays and near-miss incident?

     Air traffic controllers are short-staffed and exhausted – and new recruits face a difficult aptitude test and must train in Melbourne Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast Travellers flying in and out of Sydney airport had already been dealing with heavy delays even before a Jetstar plane narrowly avoided colliding with a Qatar Airways plane on the tarmac early on Sunday. The day before, more than 150 flights passing...

4. Thu, 13 August 2026

   4 reports
   • ABC News (Australia)09:52
     Third Sydney Airport take-off incident investigated by safety body

     Safety authorities are investigating a third runway incident at Sydney Airport, involving a Qantas flight crossing the path of a Virgin Australia aircraft.

   • The Guardian World12:35edited after publishing
     Transport watchdog investigates third near-miss at Sydney airport

     previouslyTransport watchdog investigates third near miss at Sydney airport

     Two planes came close to collision on the runway on Sunday – hours after another near miss – making a total of three in recent weeks Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast The transport safety watchdog is investigating a third near-collision between two planes at Sydney airport – the latest incident occurring hours after one that made national news and raised concerns about air traffic control. The Australian Transport...

   • ABC News (Australia)23:05edited after publishing
     Qantas passengers stranded in Johannesburg for days demand compensation

     Hundreds of Qantas passengers arrive home after being stranded in Johannesburg for three days due to the A380 scheduled to fly them to Sydney being grounded with mechanical issues.

   • ABC News (Australia)23:44edited after publishing
     PM demands 'immediate' airport issues reporting after Sydney 'delay'

     previouslyAir safety boss 'trying to understand' Sydney Airport incident reporting delay

     A third safety issue on the tarmac at Sydney Airport in recent weeks prompted the nation's air safety boss question why investigators were not notified for four days about another incident on Sunday.

5. Fri, 14 August 2026

   3 reports
   • Channel News Asia03:28
     Australia probes three near-misses at Sydney Airport

     Australian authorities are investigating three near-misses in less than two weeks at Sydney Airport, including two on the same day.

   • The Guardian World03:32edited after publishing
     Sydney airport incident involving Virgin and Qantas flights didn’t have to be reported, Airservices Australia says

     Airservices boss says planes remained 1km apart so runway incursion ‘didn’t meet mandatory reporting requirements’ but safety bureau is ‘concerned’ Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast The organisation that manages Australian skies has defended its decision not to immediately report a fresh safety incident at Sydney airport when a Virgin plane aborted its takeoff. The chief executive of the commonwealth-owned...

   • illawarramercury.com.au05:11
     Third major airport runway blunder sparks reporting row

     Turmoil is continuing at a major airport with a third incident in three weeks, after a jet was...

     2 reprints

     • southernhighlandnews.com.au14 Aug, 05:11their copy
     • dailyliberal.com.au14 Aug, 05:11their copy
6. Mon, 17 August 2026

   2 reports
   • ABC News (Australia)08:04
     Qantas A380 flew to US and back with maintenance light left in wing

     A Qantas A380 was cleared to fly passengers from Sydney to Dallas and back with a large maintenance light accidentally left inside its wing. It comes after a large tool was left inside the airline's super jumbo in 2023.

   • ABC News (Australia)20:45edited after publishing
     Sydney Airport 'crisis' a 'long time coming', retired airline pilot says

     previously'Very fortunate' no collision yet at Sydney Airport, former pilot says

     Sydney Airport could face "catastrophic" consequences if safety issues are not addressed following three incidents in as many weeks, a former pilot and aviation safety investigator says.

7. Wed, 19 August 2026

   1 report
   • singletonargus.com.au00:37
     Sydney or Melbourne: which airport upgrade is better for travellers?

     Liquid-in-bag security and single terminals: inside Australia's airports of the future.

     4 reprints

     • batemansbaypost.com.au19 Aug, 00:37their copy
     • mudgeeguardian.com.au19 Aug, 00:37their copy
     • blayneychronicle.com.au19 Aug, 00:37their copy
     • inverelltimes.com.au19 Aug, 00:37their copy
8. Thu, 20 August 2026

   1 report
   • The Guardian World15:00edited after publishing
     Sydney air traffic controllers have ‘grave concerns’ about collision risk after airspace redesign

     Exclusive: Federal government notified after whistleblower says controllers have ‘minimal confidence in their ability to handle’ rule changes related to second airport Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast Air traffic controllers at Sydney airport have warned federal safety regulators they have “grave concerns” about changes to airspace rules introduced last month, likening the situation to the months leading up to a...

9. Fri, 21 August 2026

   5 reports
   • Channel News Asia03:01
     Australia investigates fourth close call at Sydney airport in less than a month

     A Qantas Airbus A321 preparing to depart to the Gold Coast braked to avoid another Qantas aircraft, a Boeing 737, that had arrived from Melbourne on Tuesday (Aug 18).

   • Channel News Asia03:01
     Australia investigates fourth close call at Sydney airport in less than a month

     URL changednow www.channelnewsasia.com/world/australia-sydney-airport-fourth-close-call-aircraft-collision-6332551

   • ABC News (Australia)03:07
     Fourth Sydney Airport safety incident in three weeks under investigation

     Airservices Australia, the government-owned organisation responsible for air traffic management, says it reported the "potential traffic conflict" between two Qantas planes to safety authorities on Tuesday.

   • begadistrictnews.com.au04:20
     Watchdog to probe fourth Sydney airport runway bungle

     Air traffic controllers and flight crews will be interviewed after a fourth near miss between planes on a...

     3 reprints

     • bluemountainsgazette.com.au21 Aug, 04:20their copy
     • newcastleherald.com.au21 Aug, 04:20their copy
     • lithgowmercury.com.au21 Aug, 04:20their copy
   • japantoday.com05:00
     Australia investigates 4th close call at Sydney airport in less than a month

     Australia's transport safety regulator said on Friday it had launched an investigation into a fourth incident involving air traffic control at Sydney ‌airport in less than a month after two planes were directed towards the same intersection on the ground. A Qantas Airbus A321 preparing to depart to the Gold…

10. Sat, 22 August 2026

    1 report
    • aol.co.uk06:16
      Jetstar flight dramatically halted on runway as crew ask 'is there a doctor?'

      Jetstar flight 841 was due to go from Whitsunday Coast Airport in Australia to Sydney just after 3pm on Saturday, but was halted on the runway

11. Mon, 24 August 2026

    1 report
    • South China Morning Post03:20
      Australia sees spike in near-misses amid air traffic controller shortage

      Australia’s shortage of air traffic controllers is showing signs of nearing a breaking point after the country’s busiest airport recorded at least four near misses in the past month. Since late July, incidents at Sydney Airport included a passenger jet aborting its take-off because there was a plane in its path. In a separate close call, an aircraft that was taxiing had to slam on the brakes to avoid colliding with another jet. Short-staffed control towers have long been a problem globally,...

12. Sat, 29 August 2026

    1 report
    • ABC News (Australia)21:12
      Runway incursions on the rise across Australian airports, says expert

      An aviation researcher has identified a broader pattern of safety incidents increasing across Australian airports.

13. Thu, 3 September 2026

    1 report
    • nynganobserver.com.au22:00
      50-year first: Jetstar touches down as Western Sydney Airport faces final stress tests

      Excitement is building eight weeks out from launch.

      1 reprint

      • lithgowmercury.com.au3 Sept, 22:00their copy
14. Fri, 4 September 2026

    1 report
    • N1 Info (Croatia)04:53
      Avioni se zamalo sudarili, a kontrolori bili na rubu iscrpljenosti

      Pet od deset kontrolora zračnog prometa koji su 27. srpnja bili na dužnosti kada su se dva zrakoplova Qantasa zamalo sudarila u zračnoj luci u Sydneyj

      2 reprints

      • Index.hr (Croatia)4 Sept, 05:01their copy
      • 24sata (Croatia)4 Sept, 08:26their copy
15. Sat, 5 September 2026

    4 reports
    • brisbanetimes.com.au08:00
      Qantas plane diverted after suspected engine issue

      A Qantas plane travelling from Queenstown to Sydney was diverted to Christchurch.

      1 reprint

      • theage.com.au5 Sept, 08:00their copy
    • english.news.cn08:00
      Qantas flight returns to New Zealand airport following bird strike

      Qantas flight returns to New Zealand airport following bird strike-

    • english.news.cn08:00
      Qantas flight returns to New Zealand airport following bird strike

      Qantas flight returns to New Zealand airport following bird strike-

    • ABC News (Australia)08:58
      Engine flames from Sydney-bound Qantas flight forces plane to be diverted

      The Sydney-bound Boeing aircraft left the alpine ski town of Queenstown in New Zealand just before 3:30pm before it had to be diverted to Christchurch.

16. Sun, 6 September 2026

    5 reports
    • Al Jazeera English05:02
      Flames burst from Qantas plane engine after New Zealand takeoff

      A terrifying moment unfolded aboard a Qantas flight from Queenstown to Sydney when flames erupted from its left engine.

    • northweststar.com.au07:01
      'Traumatic': Qantas plane diverted after mid-air flames

      A passenger aboard a diverted Qantas flight has recalled the terrifying moment the plane ran into trouble shortly...

      8 reprints

      • tenterfieldstar.com.au6 Sept, 07:01their copy
      • begadistrictnews.com.au6 Sept, 07:01their copy
      • areanews.com.au6 Sept, 07:01their copy
      • dungogchronicle.com.au6 Sept, 07:01their copy
      • singletonargus.com.au7 Sept, 00:49their copy
      • portstephensexaminer.com.au7 Sept, 00:49their copy
      • thecourier.com.au7 Sept, 00:49their copy
      • merimbulanewsweekly.com.au7 Sept, 00:49their copy
    • The Guardian World07:32
      ‘The engine’s on fire’: Qantas flight from Queenstown to Sydney reroutes after flames seen by passengers

      Passenger recalls seeing cabin lights flicker and ‘a lot of screaming’ after suspected engine issue Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast Liza-Jayne Loch was returning home from a business trip to New Zealand when her Qantas flight ran into trouble. The plane was climbing above the scenic South Island’s mountain ranges on Saturday afternoon, bound for Sydney, when a bang shook the cabin. Continue reading...

    • Novinky (Czechia)09:17
      Na Novém Zélandu nouzově přistál Boeing s hořícím motorem

      Ve městě Christchurch na Novém Zélandu v sobotu odpoledne nouzově přistál Boeing 737 letecké společnosti Qantas, kterému za letu vzplál motor. Nikomu z pasažérů se nic nestalo. Příčina incidentu se stále vyšetřuje.

    • ABC News (Australia)09:38
      'People were screaming': Qantas passengers tell of engine spitting fire

      Flight QF122 had just left Queenstown in New Zealand on Saturday when it was diverted over what the airline said was a "suspected engine issue".

17. Mon, 7 September 2026

    1 report
    • easternriverinachronicle.com.au02:00edited after publishing
      High pressure and hard choices: the untold reality for Australia's air traffic controllers

      previouslyHow often do planes almost collide? What the Sydney Airport near-miss reveals

      What actually happens inside our airport control towers?

      4 reprints

      • hepburnadvocate.com.au7 Sept, 02:00their copy
      • edenmagnet.com.au7 Sept, 02:00their copy
      • examiner.com.au7 Sept, 02:00their copy
      • bunburymail.com.au7 Sept, 02:00their copy
18. Fri, 11 September 2026

    1 report
    • Channel News Asia02:06
      Sydney Airport flights disrupted due to air traffic controller shortage
19. Sat, 12 September 2026

    1 report
    • oberonreview.com.au11:34
      Two men detained after altercation on flight to Doha

      Local authorities in Doha have detained two men involved in an altercation on a flight from Melbourne on...

20. Fri, 18 September 2026

    2 reports
    • South China Morning Post01:56
      Australia’s Sydney Airport staff shortages prompt plan to close tower overnight

      Australia’s major airlines have backed a proposal to close Sydney Airport’s control tower overnight to free up air traffic controllers, the latest step to address a persistent labour shortage that is disrupting flights and raising safety concerns. “It sounds like an opportunity we should absolutely explore,” said Stephen Beckett, chief executive officer of Airlines for Australia & New Zealand, the group that represents Qantas Airways, its low-cost carrier Jetstar, and Virgin Australia...

    • aol.co.uk03:10
      Australia airport outage: Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane all hit by delays after 'technical issue'

      Travellers have been thanked for their patience after the outage which affected passengers at Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane airports on Friday morning, September 18

21. Wed, 30 September 2026

    3 reports
    • The Guardian World03:39
      Concern over Sydney airport as near misses and runway incursions at 20% above national average

      Australian Transport Safety Bureau investigating staffing gaps as key factor in four incidents in July and August Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast Modelling by Sydney airport’s air traffic control operators predicted elevated fatigue risks for staff at the time of a series of major safety incidents, with a review identifying runway incursions and near misses at 20% above national averages. Staffing gaps at Sydney...

    • ABC News (Australia)05:18
      Sydney Airport near-collision one of worst in 20 years, investigators say

      The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has delivered findings on four of the six ongoing investigations into conflict investigations at Sydney Airport in recent months.

    • cessnockadvertiser.com.au06:35
      How four near misses happened at Sydney Airport

      The Australian Transport Safety Bureau has released four preliminary reports on recent near miss incidents at Sydney Airport.

      4 reprints

      • northweststar.com.au30 Sept, 06:35their copy
      • blayneychronicle.com.au30 Sept, 06:35their copy
      • bunburymail.com.au30 Sept, 06:35their copy
      • crookwellgazette.com.au30 Sept, 06:35their copy
22. Tue, 6 October 2026

    1 report
    • southcoastregister.com.au00:25
      Man sues Qantas after stairs fall, airline says injuries his own fault

      Airline refers to CCTV footage of incident as it defends case.

      2 reprints

      • queanbeyanage.com.au6 Oct, 00:25their copy
      • oberonreview.com.au6 Oct, 00:25their copy
23. Mon, 12 October 2026

    2 reports
    • ABC News (Australia)21:21
      Dubai-bound Emirates flight forced to turn back to Adelaide Airport

      The plane took off from Adelaide Airport at 10:35pm on Monday but pilots were forced to turn around before reaching the West Australian border.

    • nzherald.co.nz21:46
      'Near miss' between Jetstar plane and van on airport runway

      A final report on the investigation is expected in the first quarter of 2027.

24. Tue, 13 October 2026

    1 report
    • ABC News (Australia)03:18
      Jetstar passenger plane and van nearly collide on airport tarmac

      Authorities are investigating a near miss between a Jetstar flight and a vehicle on the tarmac after a series of incidents at a north Queensland airport.

25. Sat, 17 October 2026

    1 report
    • smh.com.au18:00
      September 11 to Qantas grounding: ‘White-knuckle ride’ for man behind Sydney’s new airport

      A decade-long veteran of Qantas, Simon Hickey has faced plenty of challenges overseeing the birth of the nation’s first major airport in half a century.