A Virgin Australia pilot inspecting a parked plane at the Brisbane airport was blown over a staircase by the engine blast from another plane positioning for takeoff on Thursday.

The unnamed pilot was badly injured when the plane staircase he was standing on collapsed after a Qantas jumbo jet passed closely to the Pacific Blue Boeing 737.

The pilot suffered a fractured arm and leg. Another pilot also inspecting the plane before its scheduled flight to Bali on Friday was not injured.

A Virgin Australia spokeswoman said the Pacific Blue plane was properly parked and blamed the thrust level of the Qantas jet for the mishap. Qantas issued a statement denying excessive use of thrust.

The Brisbane Airport said the Virgin aircraft was in its normal parking bay when the incident occurred, according to Sydney Morning Herald.

A Qantas plane passed closely to a Pacific Blue plane and blew over the other plane's staircase, where a pilot was standing.