Tejal Somvanshi
Sonali Tiwary
Passengers bound for Johannesburg faced a 21-hour wait after an aerobridge struck an engine of a Qantas Airbus A380 at Sydney Airport on Saturday morning.
Flight QF63 was scheduled to depart at 9:30am on July 12, but the collision forced the airline to reschedule the flight to 6:45am the following day. Fortunately, no passengers were injured during the incident, and they were able to disembark safely via the lower deck of the aircraft.
“We’re investigating how an aerobridge made contact with the engine of one of our aircraft,” a Qantas spokesman said. The airline confirmed engineers would thoroughly inspect and repair the A380 before returning it to service.
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The incident comes just weeks after a similar accident at Brisbane Airport on June 18, where an aerobridge collided with a Qantas Boeing 737-800 arriving from Queenstown, New Zealand. That collision resulted in a shattered cockpit windscreen.
Qantas has apologized to affected travelers and arranged overnight accommodation and transportation for those requiring assistance during the extended wait.
A Sydney Airport spokesperson confirmed they are “working closely with Qantas as they investigate the cause of the incident” and thanked passengers for their patience and understanding.
Aviation experts note that while aerobridges are solid structures designed for daily use at major airports, malfunctions can occur. These incidents highlight the complex coordination required between aircraft movement and ground handling operations.
The 15-hour flight to Johannesburg will now operate on Sunday morning, allowing engineers sufficient time to complete necessary safety inspections and repairs to the A380’s affected engine.
