ATSB final report: QantasLink Q300 runway alignment incident
By Andrew Curran
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has released its final report into an incident involving a QantasLink DHC-8-Q300 at Mildura Airport (MQL) on February 25, 2025.
The pilots of the aircraft, VH-TQM (msn 604), inadvertently aligned the aircraft with the right-hand runway edge lights before commencing the take-off in pre-dawn darkness. The ATSB classified the matter as a serious incident.
The turboprop aircraft was operating a scheduled passenger flight between Mildura and Melbourne. Mildura is about 550 kilometres north-west of Melbourne. QantasLink operates three daily return services on the route, with VH-TQM operating that day’s first departure from Mildura Airport.
Nose gear strikes runway lights
According to the ATSB, the aircraft’s nose landing gear struck and damaged five runway edge lights during the take-off roll. The captain and first officer heard external noises but did not recognise them as contact with the runway edge lights.
However, the captain soon realised the aircraft was not aligned with the runway centreline, corrected the aircraft’s position, and continued the take-off.
After departure, the pilots realised the aircraft had struck the runway edge lights. Upon arrival at Melbourne Airport, the aircraft descended to 134 feet for a low pass so air traffic control could conduct a visual inspection.
No major damage was identified during the flypast and the Q300 landed safely. However, a subsequent ground inspection identified minor damage to the nose landing gear, fuselage, and a right propeller blade.
Source: ATSB
Dark ambient conditions a factor, says ATSB
ATSB Director of Transport Safety Kerri Hughes said the investigation identified several factors known to contribute to misaligned take-offs.
“Dark ambient conditions have been consistently identified in similar occurrences and can reduce the visual cues available,” she said.
“The crew was also focused on completing checks during the turn and immediately afterwards. While these checks are a necessary part of flight operations, they may divert attention away from tasks such as ensuring correct runway alignment.
“Pilots should consider the timing of conducting checks in situations where monitoring the external environment is particularly important.”
The investigation also noted that the low pass over Melbourne Airport was conducted below the briefed height of 200 feet.
“Notably, the flight crew did not seek advice on the low pass from the operator, nor did the operator provide supporting procedures for this,” Hughes said.
Qantas Group responds to the runway alignment incident
In the wake of the incident, a safety alert was issued prohibiting the conduct of checks during runway-end turns. Policy changes were also introduced across all Qantas Group operators regarding the risks associated with air traffic control tower flypasts.
The airline also told the Australian Transport Safety Bureau that it would include human factors and non-technical skills training focused on threat awareness as part of wider recurrent flight crew training.
The Qantas Group has since ceased operating Q300s. This particular aircraft was sold to Canada’s Avmax and ferried out of Australia in late 2025. It is now registered in Canada as C-FJGK.
You can read the ATSB’s final report into the incident here.
Photo: AI-Generated.
Contact the writer: andrew@aerosouthpacific.com