AdvertisementBreaking BusinessCompaniesAviation One second from disaster: Air traffic control boss forced to explain Sydney airport chaos Chris Zappone Updated August 10, 2026 — 10:44am ,first published August 10, 2026 — 7:38am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. A Jetstar plane and a Qatar Airways plane on the runway at Sydney Airport on Sunday morning. He would not prejudge his organisation’s investigation, but flagged that the traffic control system had been under significant stress. There have reportedly been several staff shortages in recent days, which result in the reduction of the pace of aircraft that air traffic control can handle. NSW Premier Chris Minns expressed concern that the sort of chaos in Sydney Airport could potentially affect the reputation as a global city.