Jets were on a collision course

Press, 1 May 1989, Page 7

Jets were on a collision course

NZPA Sydney Two commercial aircraft — a Boeing 747 and a 767 — were on a collision course over south-west New South Wales yesterday until a Sydney air traffic controller guided the planes to safety, it was disclosed. A Civil Aviation Authority spokesman confirmed the Air New Zealand and Qantas jets were converging over the Wagga district about 5 a.m. when the controller called on the aircraft to change course. A full investigation into the incident was under way but it was believed the Air New Zealand 767, which was en route to Auckland from Perth, strayed into Sydney airspace without notifying traffic control. The spokesman said the Air New Zealand jet’s original flight path was adjusted when part of Melbourne airspace was “deactivated” because an air traffic controller had called in sick. In such circumstances, the crew of an aircraft is required to notify the controllers of another city’s airspace of their intention to change route at least 15 minutes before flying into the area. The investigation is expected to reveal why the Air New Zealand crew apparently failed to do this. The Qantas jumbo, travelling from Singapore to Melbourne, was guided away from the danger zone by the Sydney controller and missed the other aircraft by at least eight nautical miles. A Qantas spokesman said the incident was “very minor” and the airline would not conduct an internal investigation.