Jetstar A320 & Qatar Airways 777 Nearly Collide On Sydney…

On August 9, 2026, a near-collision occurred at Sydney Airport between a Jetstar Airbus A320 (flight JQ402) and a Qatar Airways Boeing 777. The Jetstar aircraft was taxiing to its departure runway while the Qatar Airways plane was being towed. The two aircraft ended up on intersecting taxiways, prompting both to stop abruptly, which resulted in an injury to a flight attendant on the Jetstar plane and damage to the tow connection on the Qatar Airways jet. Over 150 flights were affected due to subsequent traffic restrictions. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau is investigating the incident, focusing on potential errors from air traffic control or the tug operator.

We often hear of close calls involving aircraft, particularly when flying near airports, or even while one aircraft is attempting to take off or land. However, here’s a rather unusual incident, where two planes nearly collided on intersecting taxiways at Sydney Airport (SYD). It even resulted in an injury, unfortunately.

In this post:

Two jets have strange, close call at Sydney Airport

This incident happened at around 7AM on the morning of Sunday, August 9, 2026, at Sydney Airport (SYD). It involves two aircraft:

Jetstar flight JQ402 was an Airbus A320 with the registration code VH-VQJ, scheduled to operate to Gold Coast (OOL)
A Qatar Airways Boeing 777-300ER with the registration code A7-BEU, which had just completed a flight from Doha (DOH)

The Jetstar A320 had been cleared to taxi from its gate to the departure runway, and was under its own power (meaning the pilots were taxiing the plane). Meanwhile the Qatar Airways 777 was being towed from a gate to a remote area by a tug (meaning it was under the control of a tug driver).

For whatever reason, the two planes ended up on intersecting taxiways at the same time, the A320 and the tug to brake sharply. The braking on the Jetstar A320 was so abrupt that a flight attendant became injured, causing the plane to return to the gate. Meanwhile the abrupt stop of the tow reportedly caused “damage to the connection between the 777 nose gear and aircraft tug.”

🚨 JETSTAR CREW MEMBER HURT IN SYDNEY NEAR-COLLISION WITH QATAR JET SUNDAY MORNING.

A dramatic near-miss unfolded on the tarmac at Sydney Airport this morning when a Jetstar Airbus A320 and a Qatar Airways Boeing 777 came within feet of a collision.

✈️ The Jetstar aircraft… pic.twitter.com/UfWrMJl7jU

— FL360aero (@fl360aero) August 9, 2026

Reportedly there was a near miss incident between 2 aircraft and Sydney Airport, a Jetstar A320 flight JQ402 reg: VH-VQJ and a Qatar Airways 777 that was under tow. 1 minor injury reported to a flight attendant who fell to the ground when the brakes were applied. No injuries to… pic.twitter.com/pRrYrkHVdN

— AvScanNZ 🇳🇿 (@NZ_Trav) August 9, 2026

Following this incident, traffic at the airport had to be restricted, given the taxiways that were blocked. More than 150 flights were impacted as a result of this, with many incurring substantial delays.

Authorities are now investigating the cause of this incident

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau is now investigating this incident, stating that it will “collect available data from both aircraft and air traffic control.” Investigators will also “interview the involved flight crew, tug operators and air traffic controllers, plus other witnesses and involved parties, and collect relevant recorded information including CCTV footage.”

Jetstar seems confident that its pilots were not to blame here, with the airline releasing a statement saying that “our aircraft was following instructions by Air Traffic Control when the pilots were forced to brake firmly after another aircraft came in close proximity.”

Australian’s Federal Minister for Transport has stated that “as is policy, the ground controller and tug operator have been stood down for mandatory drug and alcohol testing.”

We’ll see what an investigation reveals. Presumably either the ground controller gave incorrect instructions, or either the pilots or tug operator weren’t following the instructions they were given. Since Jetstar seems to be confident its pilots were following instructions, that would make either the ground controller or tug operator most likely to be responsible.

Bottom line

A Jetstar Airbus A320 and Qatar Airways Boeing 777 had a close call on a Sydney Airport taxiway, as the two aircraft nearly collided. The A320 was taxiing to the departure runway, while the 777 was being towed to a remote part of the airport. Both planes had to brake abruptly, injuring a flight attendant on the Jetstar plane, and damaging the connection between the 777 nose gear and aircraft tug.

What do you make of this Sydney Airport close call?

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Long Way Around Guest

August 9, 2026, 9:58 am

It should also be noted that for the days leading up to this, SYD had reduced capacity due to ATC staffing shortages. This doesn't make it the cause of course.

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‼\ Yowzers!

1990 Guest

August 9, 2026, 8:59 am

Better ‘nearly’ than ‘actually.’

You know what I wish would ‘collide’ is affordable QF award redemptions for J on QR… but, I guess those days are over.

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‼\ Yowzers!

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