Virgin Australia Boeing 737 Damaged in Tug Collision at MEL
A Virgin Australia Boeing 737 sustained fuselage damage after colliding with an airport tug vehicle at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport (MEL) on the evening of July 27, 2025. The incident occurred at approximately 21:40 local time while the aircraft was being towed to a maintenance hangar.
According to the airline, the aircraft became disconnected from the tug during the towing process, leading to a collision in which the tug struck the left side of the plane’s fuselage. No passengers were onboard at the time, and no injuries were reported. The aircraft had no scheduled flights and was being moved solely for routine maintenance.
Footage of the incident has circulated on social media, showing clear visual damage to the left side of the fuselage. The extent of the damage and the estimated cost of repairs have not yet been disclosed.
In a statement to local media, a Virgin Australia spokesperson confirmed the details and emphasized that the incident would not impact scheduled flight operations. “On Sunday evening, a Virgin Australia aircraft was being towed to the maintenance hangar at Melbourne Airport when it appears to have become disconnected from the tug vehicle, causing the tug to impact the side of the aircraft,” the spokesperson said.
Virgin Australia has launched an internal investigation to determine how the aircraft became detached from the tug vehicle, and Melbourne Airport authorities are expected to review safety protocols in response to the incident. Further updates will be provided as the investigation progresses.
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