Jetstar and Qatar Airways planes narrowly avoid collision at Sydney Airport

On the morning of August 9, 2026, a near-collision occurred between two passenger aircraft at Sydney Airport, Australia’s busiest aviation hub. At approximately 07:00 local time, a Jetstar Airbus A320, operating flight JQ402 to the Gold Coast, was taxiing for takeoff when its pilots were forced to perform an abrupt emergency brake. This action was taken to avoid a Qatar Airways Boeing 777 that was being towed across a taxiway. Both aircraft were brought to a sudden halt, preventing direct impact.

The incident resulted in one injury to a Jetstar cabin crew member and caused damage to the connection between the Boeing 777's nose gear and its tug. Jetstar stated that its pilots were following Air Traffic Control instructions at the time. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has officially launched an investigation into the incident, with both the regulator and Jetstar conducting independent reviews to determine the sequence of events and responsibility. Qatar Airways has not yet issued a formal comment regarding the event.