The ATSB has published the two remaining preliminary reports from its six ongoing investigations into aircraft coordination and conflict incidents at Sydney Airport in July and August 2026.
The two reports, like the four released last month, detail the established sequence of events and other evidence gathered to date in each investigation.
They do not contain findings and analysis, which will be developed and published in each investigation’s final report.
The preliminary reports detail two incidents, both at low speed, in August:
- 17 August – a taxiing conflict where a Qantas Boeing 737 had to brake to allow a Virgin Australia Boeing 737 pass in front of it.
- 25 August – a taxiing conflict where a QantasLink Dash 8 had to brake when a Jetstar Airbus A320 was being pushed back from the terminal in front of it.
In the 17 August incident, the report details that the crew of the Virgin aircraft did not read back a complete air traffic control taxiing instruction, which included the detail to ‘follow the Qantas’ aircraft, and that the issuing controller did not recognise the incomplete readback.
As the Qantas 737 vacated the runway, the crew observed that the Virgin 737 aircraft did not appear to be slowing to give way, and used normal braking to stop their aircraft while the Virgin 737 passed in front.
In the 25 August incident, the preliminary report details that a controller cleared a Jetstar A320 to push back from its gate onto the adjacent taxiway, before clearing a QantasLink Dash 8 to proceed along the same taxiway about 30 seconds later, which would take it past the A320’s bay. As they were taxiing the crew of the Dash 8 identified that the A320 was moving backwards and stopped their aircraft.
At the same time the A320’s pushback driver and despatcher stopped the pushback when they observed the approaching Dash 8, and alerted the A320’s flight crew. After both aircraft crews queried the controller, the Jetstar aircraft was instructed to move back to the gate allowing the Dash 8 to pass behind it.
“As with the earlier occurrences, these two incidents were both mitigated when flight crews and ground personnel identified a potential conflict, and acted,” ATSB Chief Commissioner Angus Mitchell noted.
“As such, an important safety defence acted appropriately, but our role is to establish why crew actions were necessary to prevent a more serious outcome.”
Both preliminary reports include details on the rostering and staffing conditions in the air traffic control tower at the time of each incident.
"We are yet to determine whether staff resourcing factors contributed to any of the six occurrences, or whether they were simply underlying conditions that were recognised and being effectively managed by Airservices, Australia’s air traffic services provider,” Mr Mitchell said.
In addition, the investigation into the 25 August occurrence will also give consideration to visibility from the air traffic control tower at Sydney and the systems available to controllers.
Mr Mitchell said the ATSB continues to investigate all six Sydney Airport conflict incidents separately, but is reviewing common factors to help identify any systemic safety issues that may emerge, and bring them to light early and transparently so those best placed can consider whether any immediate and ongoing safety risks are being effectively managed.
“Each of these investigations are considering the roles played by the controllers in Sydney tower, the flight crew in each aircraft, and any other personnel – and how those actions fit within the safety system, which is designed to prevent conflicts like these from happening,” he concluded.
The ATSB will release final reports, containing findings and the analysis to support those findings, at the conclusion of each investigation.
Read the preliminary report: Taxiing conflict involving Boeing 737, VH-IXJ, and Boeing 737, VH-VZV, Sydney Airport, New South Wales, on 17 August 2026
Read the preliminary report: Taxiing conflict involving Airbus A320, VH-VFX, and Bombardier DHC-8, VH-48N, Sydney Airport, New South Wales, on 25 August 2026