A Jetstar passenger plane had a close call with a van on the tarmac at Townsville Airport, in an incident covered by ABC News, Bloomberg, and the NZ Herald around 13 October 2026. The plane performed a low pass over the van during the near miss.
The close call has prompted concern over tarmac safety procedures at the airport. Australian aviation authorities will likely examine the incident shortly. Ground operations at Townsville Airport may face review as part of any investigation.