The near-collision between a Jetstar A320 and a Qatar Airways A Boeing 777 at Sydney airport was averted after the Jetstar pilot applied the brakes suddenly, resulting in a cabin crew member fracturing his hand.
The incident occurred on the tarmac at Sydney airport on Sunday while the Jetstar plane was taxiing for a takeoff to Queensland state's Gold Coast when its flight crew saw the Qatar Airways plane, which was being towed by an aircraft tug. Both the planes came very close on a crossing taxiway, reports quoting the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) said.
According to the ATSB, both aircraft stopped abruptly. A cabin crew member aboard the A320 was injured, and there was damage to the connection between the 777 nose gear and aircraft tug,” the ATSB said.
According to the spokesperson of the Jetstar, the crew were following instructions by Air Traffic Control when the pilots were forced to brake firmly after another aircraft came in close proximity.
The air traffic radio has revealed that a crew member of the Jetstar was explaining the situation. On a radio call to Sydney Airport’s traffic control, he was heard saying that the pilot wanted to make sure the wing cleared the nose of the Qatari jet as it made the left turn.
“It’s a priority, so if somebody could get there as quickly as possible that would be appreciated. We’ve actually now got an injured cabin manager. We’ll be required to turn to the bay, so whenever we can get out of where we are, that’s what our plan is going to be,” reports quoting the ATC said.
In a video taken by a passenger on the Jetstar flight, the pilot was heard saying on the speaker about the injury sustained by the crew. “They didn’t follow instructions, and we were told to hold short, and we were focusing on a runway. So only by chance did we got the last minute to stop,” the pilot said, adding that the towing aircraft broke all of its equipment so they could not be pushed backwards.
