A United Airlines flight nearly collided with a SkyWest flight on May 13th at San Francisco International Airport due to an unauthorized left turn by the United aircraft during takeoff from a parallel runway. The close call, resulting in a minimal lateral and vertical separation of 1950 and 275 feet respectively, prompted an evasive maneuver by the SkyWest crew. The FAA is investigating the incident, focusing on the United crew’s actions leading up to the unauthorized turn. Both airlines are cooperating with the investigation.
Read More
On May 6th, a near-collision occurred at LaGuardia Airport between a Republic Airways jet and a United Airlines plane, despite the airport’s use of the advanced ASDS-X surface radar system. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are investigating the incident, which involved a Republic Airways plane’s aborted takeoff due to the United Airlines plane still taxiing on the runway. While LaGuardia is equipped with advanced technology, the incident highlights the persistent issue of runway incursions and underscores the need for further improvements in air traffic control systems. Ongoing efforts focus on both technological upgrades, such as direct pilot warnings, and procedural improvements to reduce these dangerous near-misses.
Read More
A near-miss occurred at Chicago Midway International Airport when a Southwest Airlines flight and a Flexjet Bombardier Challenger 350 almost collided on the runway. The Southwest plane executed a go-around maneuver to avoid the private jet, which had entered the runway without authorization. The FAA and NTSB are investigating this incident, adding to a recent string of concerning aviation safety events. The close call involved a minimal separation distance of approximately 2,050 feet before the go-around, highlighting the need for enhanced safety protocols. Both Southwest and Flexjet are cooperating with the investigations.
Read More
John Q. Hosedrinker