Boeing hinted at both capabilities with a “Take a peek into the future” video circulating online and explained how the uncrewed aircraft could be controlled by a two-seater US F-15EX fighter aircraft with battle management controls.

Charles Darwin University's North Australia Centre for Autonomous Systems (NACAS) has opened the Airspace Integration Research Facility (AIR-F) at its Katherine Rural Campus, the only purpose-built unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) test site in northern Australia.

Flight BA16 from Sydney to London via Singapore, operated by the 787-9 G-ZBKL, turned around over central western NSW less than an hour into the flight after a pilot made a mayday call due to what was initially reported as a suspected fuel leak.

The flights, operating three times per week, use WA-based 150-seater A319 aircraft, with the first service touching down in Newcastle from Perth at around 1:15pm on Monday aboard VH-8NS before returning just under 90 minutes later.