Planes Narrowly Avoid Colliding with Runway Workers at Melbourne Airport

In September 2023, two passenger planes at Melbourne airport had close calls with construction workers and equipment during takeoff, according to an Australian safety investigation. The incidents occurred 11 days apart, when a Malaysia Airlines Airbus A330-300 and a Bamboo Airways Boeing 787-9 overshot the temporarily shortened runway, passing just meters above workers and vehicles.

The runway had been reduced from 3,657 meters to 2,089 meters to allow for overnight resurfacing. However, the flight crews were unaware of this critical change, leading to the near-collisions. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau found the crews had not properly factored the reduced runway length into their takeoff calculations due to expectations, workload, and time pressures.

Fortunately, no one was physically injured, and the planes continued their planned flights. But the ATSB chief commissioner called the incidents "serious" and said it was "by luck" that a catastrophic impact was avoided. The investigation has prompted updates to flight dispatcher procedures and air traffic control communications to better inform crews about aerodrome conditions during runway works.