Air traffic controllers at Sydney Airport suffered health issues from sewage odor caused by a clogged filter, resolved Jan. 10, 2025.

During the 2024 holiday travel rush, air traffic controllers at Sydney Airport reported severe health issues, including nausea and vomiting, due to a strong sewage odor in the control tower linked to hydrogen sulfide gas. The smell, traced to the Malabar Sewage Treatment System, stemmed from a clogged activated carbon filter at the airport’s odor control unit that had not been replaced due to supply delays. Exposure levels reached up to 5 parts per million, exceeding safe limits. A fire at a nearby facility may have worsened the situation. The filter was replaced on January 10, 2025, ending the odor problem. Over 5.9 million passengers traveled through the airport during the peak period.