FAA issues URGENT safety alert to airlines after SIX near misses this year - passenger jets have almost hit an ambulance, helicopter, other aircraft and one scraped tail along runway
- FAA has issued a safety alert to airlines and pilots after six near miss collisions
- In a warning, the FAA signaled airlines about the 'need for continued vigilance'
- In 2023, there have been more than half a dozen near misses at US airports
The Federal Aviation Administration has issued a safety alert to airlines and pilots after six near miss collisions involving aircrafts at U.S. airports since the beginning of the year.
In a warning Wednesday, the FAA signaled airlines about the 'need for continued vigilance and attention to mitigation of safety risks' after the series of incidents across the country.
'While the overall numbers do not reflect an increase in incidents and occurrences, the potential severity of these events is concerning,' the FAA said in their warning.
The official warning comes just days after the FAA held an impromptu safety and security summit over rising concerns among airline passengers.
Since January 1, near misses have occurred at John F. Kennedy, Seattle-Tacoma, Austin, Hollywood Burbank, Ronald Reagan Washington, Baltimore Washington International, and other U.S. airports.
Baltimore International Airport on January 12: A Southwest Airlines flight had a 173-foot near-miss with an ambulance truck that crossed the runway without authorization
Baltimore Washington International: January 12
During the Baltimore incident in January, a Southwest Airlines flight had a 173-foot near-miss with an ambulance truck that crossed the runway without authorization.
According to an FAA report on the January incident, an airport rescue and fire fighting (ARFF) vehicle was told by the tower to hold short at the runway, but read back incorrect instructions, which were not caught by the ground controllers.
'ARFF 439 you were supposed to hold short runway 15R!' one of the controllers is heard saying in the newly released air traffic control recordings.
The Southwest Boeing 737, which had been cleared for takeoff, proceeded down the runway at about 1.50pm and narrowly missed the rescue truck, which crossed the runway in front of the plane. There were no injuries in the near-miss.
John F. Kennedy International Airport: On January 15, an American Airlines flight nearly hit a Delta Airlines plane as the American Airlines flight which was taking off
John F. Kennedy International: January 13
Possibly the biggest and most notable of the near misses occurred on January 13 at John F. Kennedy International when a Delta plane nearly collided nose-first into the side of an American Airlines flight.
The Delta flight was traveling at 115mph down a runway at the New York's airport at around 8.45pm when an air traffic controller noticed that the American Airlines flight to the UK crossed from an adjacent runway.
Air Traffic Control had told the American Airlines flight to cross 'runway 31L at Kilo' but instead crossed runway 4 Left at Juliet, crossing directly in front of the departing Delta flight.
The Delta pilot was forced to abruptly brake, traveling another 661 feet before he came to a complete stop with just 1,000 feet to spare before the plane would have T-boned the American Airlines Boeing 777.
Seattle Tacoma International on January 26: Two Alaska Airlines planes scraped their tails on the tarmac as they took off, due to a software bug that left the pilots thinking their aircrafts were 20,000 pounds lighter
Seattle-Tacoma International: January 26
Less than two weeks after the JFK incident, two Alaska Airlines planes scraped their tails on the tarmac of Seattle-Tacoma International Airport as they took off.
That near-miss was attributed to a software bug that left the pilots thinking their aircrafts were 20,000 pounds lighter.
The issue was so serious enough that Alaska Airlines initiated a nationwide stoppage of all aircraft in the immediate aftermath.
An American Airlines plane was seen crossing the path of a Delta flight as it was about to take off. Air traffic control exclaimed 's***!' as they noticed the potential collision
Austin International Airport: February 4
On February 4 in Texas, Air Traffic Control had to urgently tell a Southwest jet to abort its take off so they didn't crash into FedEx pilot landing his jet.
The Southwest jet headed to Cancun, Mexico, was given the OK to take off from Texas' Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, but apparently took too long.
By the time it tried to begin its ascent, the Boeing 767 cargo plane was approaching its landing.
Disaster was avoided by quick-thinking pilots on the cargo plane who were forced to swiftly make a go-around, narrowly avoiding a collision.
Austin International Airport on February 4: A Southwest jet headed to Mexico was given the OK to take off but apparently took too long. By the time it tried to begin its ascent, a Boeing 767 cargo plane was approaching its landing
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport: March 7
On March 7, Republic Airlines flight 4736 nearly collided with United Airlines Flight 2003 after it crossed a runway without clearance at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
It had been cleared to cross another runway, but the pilot took a wrong turn.
'United 2003 cancel takeoff clearance,' the controller said. 'Aborting takeoff, aborting takeoff United 2003.'
Ronald Reagan Washington International on March 7: Republic Airlines flight 4736 nearly collides with United Airlines Flight 2003 after it crossed a runway without clearance
Hollywood Burbank Airport: February 22 and March 18
This comes after the Hollywood Burbank Airport has experienced two near misses involving aircrafts within weeks of each other in February and March.
During the most recent incident on March 18, a plane almost collided with a helicopter that was on the runway the plane was planning to land on.
According to an FAA statement, the helicopter had been practicing touch-and-go landings. After noticing the issue, the controller told the Boeing 737 to wrap around.
At the same airport in February, a Mesa Airlines flight was told to abort its landing as a SkyWest plane was given the go-ahead for take off on the same runway.
During that incident, an automatic alarm inside the Mesa Airlines plane went off as the planes worked to avoid a near collision.
Anther near miss was reported in Boston earlier this year.
Hollywood Burbank Airport on March 18: A Southwest Airlines flight was told to 'go around' due to a helicopter on the runway. This is the second incident at the airport in a matter of weeks at the Southern California Airport
Southwest planes have been involved in multiple incidents of near misses this year
In their alert Wednesday, officials with the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board said they continue to investigate the series of incidents that have spiked concern
In their alert Wednesday, officials with the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board said they continue to investigate the series of incidents that have spiked concern.
They are urging pilots and airlines to 'evaluate information' to manage safety worries.
'Operators should evaluate information collected through their safety management processes, identify hazards, increase and improve safety communications with employees and enact mitigations,' the FAA statement said.
Last week, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said the U.S. cannot wait for a 'catastrophic event' to address safety concerns.
The Chair of the NTSB, Jennifer Homendy, agreed: 'There have been far too many close calls. These recent incidents must serve as a wake-up call.'
FAA officials, including acting Administrator Billy Nolen has said they are forming a team to review safety measures at this time.
Nolen last month called the series of near misses a 'call to action.'
FAA officials, including acting Administrator Billy Nolen has said they are forming a team to review safety measures at this time
FAA officials said a Southwest flight was approaching a runway at the Hollywood Burbank Airport Saturday March 18 around 9.50am when the near collision occurred
This is the Hollywood Burbank Airport which has seen two near misses in a matter of weeks
In an interview with NBC Nightly News anchor Lester Holt last week, Nolen said officials have begun 'to see things that we don't expect to see' when it comes to the near misses.
'We expect every flight to operate as it should,' Nolen said.
'And so we've had these events over the past few weeks. That gives us a moment to say, "Let's stop. Let's reflect. Let's ask ourselves the question: Are we missing anything?"' he said.
Nolen said more people are flying and more planes are in the air due to a 'pent-up demand for flying.'
'Flying has come back with a vengeance, so to speak,' Nolen said.
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