# What’s behind Sydney airport’s heavy delays and near-miss incident?

https://mins.news/en/item/20339

- The Guardian, 2026-08-12 15:00 UTC
- World
- Original: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/aug/13/whats-behind-sydney-airports-heavy-delays-and-near-miss-incident

> Travellers using Sydney airport have faced major delays amid a fragile air-traffic-control staffing situation. Early on Sunday, a Jetstar aircraft narrowly avoided colliding with a Qatar Airways plane on the tarmac. More than 150 flights had already been delayed the previous day. Controllers are reportedly short-staffed and exhausted, while new recruits must pass a difficult aptitude test and complete training in Melbourne.