Third major airport runway blunder sparks reporting row

It's been revealed there were two blunders at a major airport on the same day. A third incident in as many weeks at Sydney Airport has sparked a reporting row between the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) and Airservices Australia. On Sunday, a Virgin Australia jet was cleared to take off but was forced to cancel after a Qantas plane already had permission to cross the runway 1.3km away. This incident was not reported for four days, as Airservices Australia claimed it did not meet notification thresholds. The ATSB chief, Angus Mitchell, confirmed his body is investigating the incident. Additionally, a near-miss occurred earlier last Sunday when a Jetstar pilot had to break to avoid a Qatar Airways plane towing across the tarmac, causing minor injuries to a flight attendant. On July 27, two Qantas planes were cleared to approach the runway simultaneously. Airservices Australia reported the incident on Thursday, but delays persisted. Mitchell noted training in the air traffic control tower may have affected procedures. Airservices Australia's Rob Sharp disagreed, stating controllers immediately rescinded the clearance and the aircraft remained stationary. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese emphasized the need for immediate reporting of such incidents, while NSW Premier Chris Minns stressed the importance of prioritizing safety and improving air traffic controller training. Civil Air president Scott Nugent previously highlighted the need for more resources and training for control tower staff.