Arabic version: التحقيق في ثالث حادثة إقلاع على مدرج بمطار سيدني

According to ABC News, air safety authorities are investigating a third runway take-off incident at Sydney Airport in as many weeks. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau said the event on Sunday involved Virgin Australia Flight VA555, bound for Perth, and Qantas Flight QF728, flying to Ayers Rock Airport.

The ATSB said air traffic control cleared the Virgin Australia Boeing 737 for a full-length take-off on runway 34L at about 10am local time. As the crew applied thrust, they saw the Qantas 737 begin crossing the runway ahead from taxiway Lima. The Qantas crew reported receiving an air traffic control clearance to cross the runway, while the Virgin crew reduced thrust and stopped the aircraft.

Air traffic controllers cancelled VA555’s take-off clearance at the same time the crew noticed the Qantas aircraft. The Qantas plane was understood to have begun crossing about 1,200 metres ahead of where the Virgin flight started its take-off, before its clearance was cancelled four seconds later. After the Qantas aircraft cleared the runway, Virgin Australia was re-cleared to take off.

The ATSB will interview the Virgin and Qantas crews and review recorded flight data. Airservices Australia said the aircraft were never in close proximity and that it was working with the ATSB. Qantas and Virgin Australia said they would support the investigation. Earlier on Sunday, Jetstar Flight JQ402 braked during take-off preparations to avoid a Qatar Airways 777 being towed on the tarmac. Two airport workers were temporarily stood down after that near collision, which injured a Jetstar crew member. A QantasLink flight and a Qantas plane were also involved in a near-miss on the tarmac on July 27.