Key facts
- Sydney Airport's runway incursions and near misses are 20% above the national average.
- Four serious safety incidents occurred at Sydney Airport in July and August.
- Staffing gaps and predicted fatigue risks for air traffic controllers are being investigated.
- One incident on July 27 involved two aircraft coming within 120 meters of each other.
- A flight attendant fractured her wrist on August 9 due to an abrupt braking maneuver.
- Final investigation reports are expected in 2027.
Sydney Airport is facing scrutiny over a series of safety incidents, with preliminary reports from the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) indicating that runway incursions and near misses are occurring at a rate 20% higher than the national average. Four significant incidents took place in July and August, prompting an investigation into staffing levels and fatigue risks among air traffic controllers.
ATSB chief commissioner Angus Mitchell stated that staffing gaps have "emerged as a recurring area of enquiry." Air Services Australia, the operator of the airport's air traffic control, had predicted high fatigue risks for staff during the periods when the incidents occurred, based on roster modeling. Investigators are examining whether the combination of operational roles, reliance on overtime, and conducting training alongside normal duties contributed to the events.
While ground confliction rates have been broadly steady nationally over the past decade, Sydney has recorded the highest rate per aircraft movement post-Covid. The incidents include a near miss on July 27 involving a Qantas Boeing 737 and a Qantaslink Dash 8, which came within 120 meters of each other during a controller handover. This incident received the most serious safety classification. On August 9, a Jetstar A320 performed an emergency brake to avoid a Qatar Boeing 777 being towed, resulting in a flight attendant fracturing her wrist. On the same day, a Qantas Boeing 737 was cleared to cross a runway in front of a Virgin 737 cleared for takeoff, and on August 18, a Qantas A321 had to brake for a Qantas Boeing 737 that passed in front of it.
Mitchell also noted that Sydney has seen twice the annual average number of information and procedural errors compared to other airports since the Covid period. Higher-consequence incidents, including runway incursions and losses of separation attributed to air traffic control, have also increased. Transport Minister Catherine King has called for full cooperation from Airservices Australia to address the issues and announced the formation of an independent assurance panel for Sydney's air traffic control. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) has indicated that none of the incidents posed an immediate safety risk, and air travel in Australia remains safe.