A Jetstar passenger plane nearly struck a van on the tarmac at Townsville Airport, in an incident picked up by ABC News, Bloomberg, and the NZ Herald around 13 October 2026. The plane flew low over the van during the close call.
The incident has prompted concern over tarmac safety procedures at the airport. Australian aviation authorities are set to look into the incident shortly. Ground operations at Townsville Airport will likely come under scrutiny as part of any review.