Australia introduces national large airtanker SOPs after 737 crash

Australia has introduced national standard operating procedures (SOPs) for large airtankers used in bushfire suppression, following a safety finding from the investigation into a 2023 Boeing 737 firebomber accident in Western Australia.

On 6 February 2023, a Boeing 737 large airtanker struck a ridgeline on rising terrain after completing a retardant drop during firefighting operations in Fitzgerald River National Park, southwest Western Australia. Both pilots survived, but the aircraft was destroyed by the impact and subsequent fire.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB), in its final report published in November 2024, found that states and territories had developed separate SOPs for large airtankers. The differences created a risk that safety requirements, including minimum drop heights, could be omitted or misunderstood by tasking agencies.

“The investigation found differing standards between jurisdictions could result in safety requirements being omitted or misunderstood by the various tasking agencies, such as a minimum drop height,” said ATSB Chief Commissioner Angus Mitchell. “This resulted in inconsistencies in the development and application of large airtanker SOPs.”

In response, the Australasian Fire and Emergency Services Authorities Council (AFAC) committed to developing national procedures. The resulting SOPs have been endorsed and adopted by Australian fire agencies through the National Aerial Firefighting Centre (NAFC).

Mitchell said the national procedures represented “a new national standard for large airtanker operations in Australia” and a step forward in aerial firefighting safety.