Brisbane aerobridges strike again, this time damaging a Fijian jet

A Fiji Airways Boeing 737 MAX has been damaged at Brisbane’s international airport after an aerobridge incident – the third in as many months at the airport.

Flight FJ923 from Nadi, which landed at Brisbane Airport at 11.02pm on Saturday, was damaged at the gate when the aerobridge smashed into the cockpit’s left-hand windscreen.

All passengers safely disembarked via forward stairs.

The aerobridge struck the Fiji Airways Boeing 737 late on Saturday night at Brisbane Airport.Credit: Facebook

It came a little more than a month after a Qantas Boeing 737 was damaged in similar circumstances, and two months after an Air New Zealand Boeing 777 struck an aerobridge as it was being pushed back on May 22.

Brisbane Airport spokesman Peter Doherty said Saturday night’s incident was under investigation but hinted at user error.

“Fortunately, no crew or passengers were injured,” he said.

“A detailed overnight inspection of the aerobridge found no mechanical faults, and further rigorous inspections are being conducted today to ensure safety and operational integrity.”

Comment has been sought from Fiji Airways.

The incident was almost a carbon copy of last month’s accident, in which a right-side windscreen was shattered on a Qantas Boeing 737 recently arrived from Queenstown in New Zealand.

In May’s incident, an Air New Zealand Boeing 777 struck an aerobridge as it was being pushed back from the terminal.

A seven-centimetre hole was discovered in the fuselage, just under the captain’s window, and the plane was flown back to Auckland unpressurised at 9000 feet – about a third of its usual altitude – with no passengers.

The damaged left windscreen on the Fiji Airways 737.Credit: Facebook

But the spate of aerobridge incidents has not been confined to Brisbane. This month, an aerobridge at Sydney Airport rammed into a Qantas A380 superjumbo, causing damage to one of its four engines.

The alarming trend has the Australian Services Union concerned.

“After a string of incidents around the country involving aerobridges, the airlines and airports involved – who own the aerobridges – must engage with the union on aerobridge quality and safety,” national secretary Emeline Gaske said.

Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.