Virgin plane collides with ground vehicle at Melbourne airport during tow for maintenance, no injuries reported

A Virgin Australia Boeing 737 aircraft was damaged on Sunday night, JUly 27 after colliding with a ground vehicle at Melbourne Airport in Tullamarine. The incident occurred while the plane was being towed to a maintenance hangar.

According to Virgin Australia and airport officials, the aircraft became disconnected from the tug during the transfer, leading the vehicle to strike the side of the plane, as reported by the Canberra Times. The collision left a visible tear several metres long along the aircraft’s fuselage.

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After the incident, airport crews were seen on-site attempting to patch the damage. There were no passengers on board at the time, and no injuries were reported.

No disruption to flights

Virgin Australia confirmed that the damaged aircraft was not scheduled for passenger service and that the incident would not impact Monday’s flight operations. The Boeing 737 model involved is typically used for domestic routes.

A spokesperson for Melbourne Airport told NewsWire, “An investigation is under way, and the relevant authorities have been notified.”

What caused the Virgin plane crash at Melbourne Airport?

The collision was caused when the Virgin Australia aircraft became disconnected from the tug vehicle while being towed to the maintenance hangar. This disconnection led the tug to impact the side of the plane, resulting in a large gash in the aircraft’s fuselage.

This information was confirmed by Virgin Australia and Melbourne Airport officials. The exact reason behind the disconnection is still under investigation.

FAQs

Were there passengers on board the Virgin Australia aircraft during the collision?

No, the plane was being moved for maintenance and had no passengers on board at the time of the incident.

Will the Virgin Australia collision affect flight schedules?

Virgin Australia confirmed that the incident will not impact any scheduled flights, and operations remain unaffected.