Qantas and Virgin Australia's close call avoids mid-air collision over Brisbane

Qantas and Virgin planes came too close to each other near Brisbane Airport. Photo / Getty Images

A Qantas plane has been involved in a close call with a Virgin Australia aircraft near Brisbane Airport.

The incident, which occurred on October 11, is being investigated by both the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) and Airservices Australia.

The loss of separation between the Qantas 737 and Virgin 737 planes occurred near Amberley, Queensland, nearly 70km from Brisbane Airport. There was bad weather in the area at the time.

The Virgin plane had just departed Brisbane and was heading for Proserpine, Queensland, while the Qantas aircraft was approaching Brisbane after travelling from Melbourne. They had both been following advice from air traffic control at the time of the incident.

According to the ATSB incident report: "The controller issued a weather diversion and approach clearance to the inbound Boeing 737, which resulted in a loss of separation with the departing Boeing 737."

The incident occurred in airspace over Brisbane Airport. Photo / Getty Images

The ATSB is currently conducting interviews and gathering further information about just what happened, and a report will be published once the investigation is complete.
Meanwhile, an Airservices Australia spokesperson told news.com.au: "A loss of required separation was reported between two Boeing 737 aircraft near Amberley on October 11.

"Controllers issued a weather diversion and approach clearance to the inbound aircraft, which resulted in a loss of separation with the departing aircraft.

"The matter is under investigation by Airservices and the Australian Transport Safety Bureau."

Australian planes should not follow closer than 5 nautical miles or pass within 1000ft.

The Airservices site states that aircraft flying in controlled airspace in Australia (8800m) must be separated by 305m vertically, unless they are spaced horizontally. Above this level, the vertical separation increases to 610m.