Cars and planes usually coexist peacefully in airports all over the world, but sharing the same piece of tarmac can lead to accidents. One such incident occurred this morning at Sydney Airport in Australia when a Mitsubishi Triton pickup collided with a stationary Airbus A320 aircraft. Fortunately, there were no serious injuries, although multiple flights had to be cancelled.
The incident took place at around 5.30 am on Monday. The truck was part of the airport’s fleet and was reportedly driven by a security contractor’s staff member. The cause of the accident is unknown and currently being investigated.
According to the Sydney Morning Herald, which obtained an internal memo intended for Jetstar staff, the driver was trapped in the vehicle during the incident. The confidential internal memo stated, “The vehicle driver, a [Sydney Airport] employee, was trapped in the vehicle at bay G4 [gate four],’ and clarified that “No other [Jetstar] employees/crew were involved”.
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As reported by Sky News, the driver of the Mitsubishi was attended to by paramedics at the scene before being taken to the Prince of Wales Hospital for treatment of his minor injuries. Fortunately, the Sydney Airport spokesperson confirmed that there were ‘no injuries.’ The collision occurred as the plane was being towed to the gate, which is why there were no passengers on board.
Photos captured in the aftermath reveal the shattered windshield and distorted cabin of the Mitsubishi truck, which is wedged under the aircraft’s right engine. The front suspension seems to have buckled under the substantial weight, and the tires appear deflated.
According to Sydney Airport’s announcement, the aircraft is currently undergoing ‘precautionary engineering checks’ to assess its condition. 9News Australia reported that the estimated cost of repairs to the airplane exceeds AU$500,000 (approximately US$330,000).
The JQ760 flight was originally planned to depart from Sydney to Adelaide at 6.40 am. On Monday, the Jetstar plane had a total of six scheduled services, all of which were canceled. The airline arranged alternative same-day flights for affected passengers, ensuring they will have an interesting story to share.