What happened
A Jetstar A320 taxiing for Gold Coast and a towed Qatar Airways 777-300ER from Doha braked hard on intersecting taxiways at Sydney Airport around 7 a.m. on Sunday 9 August 2026. One Mile at a Time reports the Jetstar flight was JQ402, aircraft VH-VQJ, heading for the runway under its own power, while Qatar's A7-BEU was being moved to a remote stand.
The A320 stopped so abruptly that a flight attendant was injured and the jet returned to the gate. The tug's halt damaged the connection between the 777 nose gear and the tug. Traffic restrictions while the taxiways were blocked delayed more than 150 flights.
Jetstar says its crew followed air traffic control. The ground controller and the tug operator were stood down for drug and alcohol tests. The ATSB is gathering evidence. Travellers who passed through Sydney that morning should allow for knock-on delays and wait for the ATSB investigation.
- Numbers
- 150 flights: flights disrupted after taxiways were blocked
- 7AM time: approximate time of the close call
- Where
- Sydney Airport (SYD)
- Takeaway
- Nothing to book; anyone transiting Sydney that morning should expect knock-on delays and wait for the ATSB investigation.