Major airport suffers fourth near miss in recent months as jet is forced to brake hard

Preliminary findings into recent runway incidents and near-collisions at Sydney Airport reveal that transport safety investigators are scrutinizing control tower staffing levels and potential controller fatigue. These incidents, which occurred over three months, involved passenger aircraft and led to one flight attendant fracturing her wrist due to sudden braking. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) is examining the significance of staff resourcing pressures, operational role combinations, overtime reliance, and training activities alongside operational duties.

• Sydney Airport is facing scrutiny over a series of runway incidents and near-collisions involving passenger aircraft over the past three months.
• Preliminary reports from the ATSB highlight several incidents, including aircraft being cleared to cross runways in front of others and a jet forced to brake abruptly, causing an injury.
• Key areas of investigation include staffing levels at Sydney Airport’s control tower, the practice of combining operational roles, reliance on overtime, and training activities.
• Potential controller fatigue is also being examined as a heightened risk factor, though not directly linked to the incidents.
• Sydney Airport recorded the highest rate of ground conflicts per aircraft movement among Australia’s major airports in the post-COVID period.