Virgin Australia plane collides with ground vehicle at Melbourne Airport

The Boeing 747 was being towed for maintenance when the incident happened, leaving an enormous rip in the side of the aircraft.

A Virgin Australia aeroplane has collided with a vehicle during a ground transfer at a major Melbourne airport.

The Virgin Australia Boeing 737 was being towed to the hangar for maintenance at Melbourne Airport in Tullamarine on Sunday night.

A Virgin Austraila aeropleane collided with a gorund vehicle during a ground transfer at a major Melbourne airport. Picture: Nine News

Workers covered the large gash in the side of the plane before it was taken away for repairs. Picture: Nine News

During the tow, the aircraft became disconnected from the tug vehicle, causing the two to collide.

The tug hit the side of the plane, causing a large tear in the side of the aircraft.

Crews were on the scene attempting to patch the impacted aircraft.

The Boeing 737 is 13 years old and worth about $30-$45 million.

The bill for repairs is expected to be in the millions if the aircraft isn’t written off because of the damage.

A Virgin plane at the maintenance hangar on Monday morning. Picture: NewsWire / Luis Enrique Ascui

Virgin said the incident would not impact flights on Monday. Picture: NewsWire / Luis Enrique Ascui

“The aircraft was being towed to the maintenance hangar, so there were no passengers on board,” a Melbourne Airport spokesman told NewsWire.

“An investigation is under way, and the relevant authorities have been notified.”

A Virgin spokesman confirmed the collision would not impact the airline’s flight schedule for Monday.

Originally published as Virgin Australia plane collides with ground vehicle at Melbourne Airport