Top: Jetstar Airways Airbus A320 (VH-A5E) parked on the airport apron. Credit: ZhangerAviation // Ryan Zhang Bottom: Cessna 172 aircraft ZK-TAP, operated by Ardmore Flying School, parked on an airfield. Credit: Richard Currie
Runway incursion, Cessna 172R, Hamilton, 8 November 2025
Status
Current
Occurrence Date
Jurisdiction
NZ
The Commission is investigating a runway incursion incident at Hamilton Aerodrome involving an Airbus A321 aeroplane registration VH-A5E operating as JQ166 operated by Jetstar Airways and a Cessna 172 registration ZK-TAP operated by Ardmore Flying School.
The reported circumstances were that the A320 was on the ground, backtracking* along the aerodrome’s main runway 18L ahead of departing for Sydney. The Cessna was airborne, approaching to land; on the same runway.
* Backtracking refers to the procedure where an aircraft taxies along an active runway in the direction opposite to that being used for takeoff or landing.
The reported circumstances were that the A320 was on the ground, backtracking* along the aerodrome’s main runway 18L ahead of departing for Sydney. The Cessna was airborne, approaching to land; on the same runway.
* Backtracking refers to the procedure where an aircraft taxies along an active runway in the direction opposite to that being used for takeoff or landing.