Crikey! A Qantas Boeing 737-800 had a bit of a nose-nudge with an aerobridge on Wednesday arvo, right after landing at Brisbane International Airport from Queenstown, NZ. The incident happened during taxiing around 6:30pm, and while the plane didn’t exactly “crash,” it did give the airbridge a love tap.
Thankfully, no injuries were reported — just some startled faces, a few muttered “bloody hells,” and a walk down the tarmac via stairs instead of the usual bridge.
Incident Overview Table
| Detail | Info / Outcome |
|---|---|
| Flight | QF186 (Queenstown, NZ → Brisbane, AU) |
| Aircraft | Boeing 737-800 |
| Date/Time | Wed, ~6:30pm (local), June 18, 2025 |
| What Happened | Nose collided with aerobridge during taxi-in |
| Passengers Injured | None |
| Disembark Method | External stairs (stairs like old-school rockstars) |
| Repair Status | Under engineering inspection in Brisbane |
| Airport Action | Joint investigation with Qantas underway |
Safety Context & Qantas Track Record
| Event Type | Frequency (Australia) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Taxiway collisions (ground) | ~3–5/year (minor) | Almost always minor, like this one |
| In-air incidents (737 models) | Extremely rare | None fatal for Qantas, ever |
| Qantas 737 incidents (2022–2024) | 2 notable ground knocks | Similar Perth 737 scrape in 2024 |
Qantas has famously never had a fatal jet crash — their rep for safety is so good even Rain Man quotes it.
Why It’s No Cause for Panic
- Low speed: Taxiing speeds are under 30 km/h — not fast enough to hurt anyone.
- Immediate action: Engineers grounded the aircraft for inspection.
- Regulatory response: Brisbane Airport and Qantas are investigating together.
- Passenger care: Everyone got off safely, just with an extra few stairs and stories to tell.
What Happens Next
- Aircraft inspected, repaired, then returned to service.
- Brisbane Airport reviews docking & bridge systems.
- Internal Qantas procedure review to prevent repeat.
