Sydney Airport Had Multiple Near-Miss Incidents as Fatigue Probe Points to Air Traffic Controllers

Sydney Airport has had multiple near-miss incidents this year, including one in which two aircraft nearly collided, and investigators are examining whether air traffic controller fatigue played a role, according to Reuters and Jiemian News. On July 27, a Qantas turboprop aircraft landing at the airport nearly collided with a Qantas Boeing 737 that had been cleared to cross the runway. In the following month, five similar close calls were also reported at Sydney Airport. Reuters said that after reviewing an internal report, it found that of the 10 air traffic controllers on duty on July 27, five were assessed as high risk by Australia's fatigue management system, one as medium risk, one as low risk and three as no risk.