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A Jetstar aircraft had a near-miss with a van while coming in to land at a Queensland airport, prompting an investigation by authorities.
Flight JQ908 was approaching the runway at the regional Townsville airport in Queensland, Australia after an hour-and-a-half flight from Brisbane on 7 October.
The Airbus A320 was coming in to land on the runway when a white van entered a restricted area.
The aircraft passed over the van with about 15 metres clearance, which the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) labelled a “serious incident”.
Guidelines for airside drivers state a vehicle should never cross an illuminated stop bar, even if air traffic control verbally clears them to enter a runway. The stop bar makes the runway a restricted area when a plane is landing to avoid incursions.
In a statement to Australian outlet ABC News, Jetstar said the flight landed normally without incident.
“Safety is our number one priority, and we are working with the ATSB to understand the circumstances surrounding this incident,” a spokesperson said.
Townsville airport is owned by the Queensland Airports group but operates as a joint-use facility under an agreement with the Australian Defence Force.
Air traffic control services at the airport are provided by the Australian Air Force.
“Defence is working closely with the ATSB regarding its investigation into a runway incursion and near-collision at RAAF Base Townsville/Townsville Airport on 7 October 2026, after a vehicle entered a restricted airside area,” a Defence Force spokesperson told ABC.
“As this matter is under investigation, Defence will make no further comment at this time.”
The incident comes two months after another Jetstar aircraft had a near-collision with a Qatar Airways flight.
The incident disrupted operations at Sydney airport after the pilot aboard the Jetstar aircraft was forced to brake suddenly to avoid a collision with a Qatar Airways jet.
It said a Jetstar Airbus A320 was taxiing for a flight to the Gold Coast when its crew “observed a Qatar Airways Boeing 777, under tow from an aircraft tug, in close proximity on a crossing taxiway”.
“A cabin crew member aboard the [Jetstar] A320 was injured, and there was damage to the connection between the 777 nose gear and aircraft tug” as both planes stopped abruptly, a statement from the ATSB said.
This incident is also under investigation by the ATSB.
The Independent has contacted the ATSB, Townsville airport and Jetstar for comment.
Read more: Jetstar and Qatar Airways planes in near-miss collision at Sydney airport
