Construction Crews Narrowly Escape Disaster in Melbourne Airport Incidents
Two passenger aircraft came dangerously close to colliding with construction workers and vehicles during takeoff from Melbourne Airport in September 2023, according to a final investigation report released by Australian safety authorities. The incidents occurred when flight crews were unaware that the runway had been temporarily shortened by nearly 1,600 metres for resurfacing works.
Dramatic Near-Misses Over Construction Zone
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) detailed two separate but remarkably similar incidents that took place just eleven days apart. On September 7, 2023, a Malaysia Airlines Airbus A330-300 carrying 247 people to Kuala Lumpur overran the shortened runway during takeoff, passing less than seven metres above construction workers and equipment.
The second incident occurred on September 18 when a Bamboo Airways Boeing 787-9 bound for Hanoi also lifted off beyond the temporary runway end, missing ground personnel by just 4.5 metres. Both aircraft continued their planned flights without physical injuries reported, though the psychological impact on ground workers was described as "terrifying."
Systemic Failures in Critical Information Flow
The investigation revealed that runway 16/34 had been reduced from its standard length of 3,657 metres to just 2,089 metres to accommodate night-time resurfacing projects. While information about the changes was technically available through written reports and the airport's automatic terminal information service, flight crews failed to incorporate this critical detail into their takeoff calculations.
ATSB Chief Commissioner Angus Mitchell emphasised the gravity of the situation: "These were serious incidents. In both cases we had a fully loaded and fuelled aircraft with over 200 personnel on board coming within metres of fixed equipment on the ground." He noted that only luck prevented a catastrophic impact.
The Malaysia Airlines crew reported their attention had been focused on taxiway closures, while the Bamboo Airways team cited high workload from repeated power outages and time pressure to depart as contributing factors.
International Safety Reforms Implemented
In response to the incidents, both airlines have updated their flight dispatcher procedures and processes. More significantly, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has introduced new standards requiring highly visible signage to alert flight crews to temporary runway changes.
Air Services Australia, working with the Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority, is developing proposed changes to air traffic control procedures for delivering essential information about runway works. The ATSB has also issued a formal safety recommendation urging ICAO to review its standards and practices for air traffic control communications.
Commissioner Mitchell highlighted the fundamental issue: "The risk controls in place at the time were procedural in nature. These and previous incidents show that this process is susceptible to human error." The reforms aim to create multiple layers of protection against similar oversights in the future.
