Key facts
- The ATSB is investigating a second runway incursion at Sydney Airport on August 9.
- A Virgin Australia plane aborted takeoff when a Qantas plane crossed the runway.
- The Qantas crew stated they had clearance from air traffic control to cross.
- This incident is the third safety event at Sydney Airport in under three weeks.
- Airservices Australia attributes disruptions to a shortage of air traffic controllers.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) is investigating a second runway incursion at Sydney Airport that occurred on Sunday, August 9, involving a Virgin Australia flight aborting its takeoff as a Qantas plane crossed the runway. This incident, which occurred just hours after a Jetstar plane narrowly avoided a collision with a Qatar Airways plane, is the third safety event at the airport in less than three weeks. The Qantas crew reported receiving clearance from air traffic controllers to cross the runway, while the Virgin crew sighted the crossing plane and stopped their aircraft. Airservices Australia, responsible for air traffic management, is cooperating with the ATSB and attributes ongoing travel disruptions to a significant shortage of air traffic controllers. This shortage is partly due to experienced staff leaving during a pandemic-era incentive program and a lengthy training process for new recruits. Federal Transport Minister Catherine King has deemed the disruptions unacceptable but expressed confidence in Airservices Australia's efforts to manage the situation, including changes to rostering practices and an expected 95 new controllers by year-end.