Australian Aviation

The evidence came at the start of a long-awaited trial in which Qantas has been charged with discriminatory conduct and alleged breaches of workplace health and safety laws.

The news was revealed during the first day of an inquest at the ACT’s coroner’s court that examined how the Army helicopter’s searchlight started the blaze.

The airport said it’s already low on space with the current two terminals, and with travel lockdowns from the pandemic lifting, demand is only set to grow further.

The incident, seen by thousands of onlookers, saw a WWII-era B-17 Flying Fortress fly straight into a Bell P-63 Kingcobra before both fell to the ground and exploded into flames.

Videos posted on social media showed the smaller P-63 fighter fly at speed directly into the larger B-17 before the aircraft crashed into the ground in front of onlookers.

The news also means Andrew Finch, the airline group’s general counsel, has stepped down as a director of the travel agent.