Third Sydney Airport take-off incident investigated by safety body
Safety authorities are investigating a third runway incident at Sydney Airport, which involved a Qantas flight crossing the path of a departing Virgin Australia aircraft.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) said today that the incident occurred on Sunday, involving Virgin Australia Flight VA555 destined for Perth and Qantas Flight QF728 flying to Ayers Rock Airport.
"At around 10am local time, air traffic control (ATC) cleared the Virgin Australia 737 for a full-length take-off on runway 34L," an ATSB statement said.
"As the crew applied thrust for take-off, they observed the Qantas 737 begin to cross the runway ahead of them from taxiway lima.
"The Qantas crew reported having received a clearance from ATC to cross the runway.
"The Virgin Australia crew reduced thrust and the aircraft came to a stop on the runway."
The ATSB said air traffic controllers cancelled VA555's take-off clearance at the same time its crew noticed the Qantas aircraft ahead.
"Once the Qantas 737 was clear of the runway, the Virgin Australia 737 was re-cleared by ATC to commence take-off," the ATSB said.
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