LaGuardia Near-Miss Highlights Air Traffic Control Concerns
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.
John Q. Hosedrinker