Plane collision between Virgin and Jetstar planes at Melbourne Airport misses ... - Courier Mail

The reversing Virgin aircraft ripped off the Jetstar plane's tail cone, littering the tarmac with debris. Source: Supplied

A COLLISION between two aircraft at Melbourne Airport yesterday, which caused up to $3 million damage to the planes, could have been far more serious had the impact been 1m closer to a spinning engine, airport sources claim.

A direct hit by a reversing Virgin aircraft onto the running auxiliary power unit at the rear of the Jetstar A380 may have caused spinning components to fly out of engine casings and the potential for fire, Australian Licensed Aircraft Engineers' Association president Paul Cousins said.

Mr Cousins estimated the damage cost to both aircraft at $2-$3 million and blamed the cause on Virgin's decision to replace licensed engineers with cheaper ramp staff to conduct aircraft reversals known as "push backs".

"The money they have saved over the last 12 months (by the changes) would have all been swallowed up as a result of this," Mr Cousins said.

Virgin flight VA1507 to Maroochydore, with 175 passengers, was reversing out of its terminal bay about 9.35am when it struck the stationary Jetstar aircraft, which had its cautionary lights flashing and was awaiting approval to move into another bay.

The Jetstar tail cone was smashed off, with debris strewn across the tarmac, while the Virgin jet sustained wingtip damage.

The tail damage on the Virgin aircraft at Melbourne Airport. Picture: Supplied Source: Supplied

Another airport source said Virgin would also be pointing the finger at Jetstar and at airport control tower staff who gave final approval for the push-back.

The source, who blamed the "casualisation of the workforce" and cost-saving ground staff changes on the incident, said control tower staff may have also had their view of the situation compromised by tarmac apron works being conducted.

"It was as if we ran over something ... oh my God, we've just hit another plane," passenger Luke Grima, 45, of Bentleigh said after disembarking from the Virgin plane.

"When we looked out the wing, we could just see the end of the wing had come off and the other Jetstar plane has got some pretty serious damage to its rear."

Melbourne Airport spokesman Matt Francis said a full investigation was under way.

"The incident involved an aircraft pushing back from its gate for departure, and an aircraft which was holding for a gate," Mr Francis said.

There were no passenger or air personnel injured in the incident which was attended by five emergency response vehicles.

Jetstar spokeswoman Emma Kearns said their aircraft would be out of service for several days.

Virgin passengers were evacuated and given food vouchers.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau is investigating the accident.