A FedEx Boeing 767 cargo plane similar to this one, seen here in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., almost collided with a Southwest jet at the international airport in Austin, Texas, last year. Safety investigators say an air traffic controller’s mistake was to blame and that critical safety technology might have prevented the incident.
Wilfredo Lee/AP
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Wilfredo Lee/AP
WASHINGTON — An air traffic controller’s mistake led to a near collision between two jets on a foggy runway in Austin, Texas, last year, the National Transportation Safety Board said Thursday.
Investigators also called for critical safety technology and additional training, which they say might have prevented the incident, as federal regulators grapple with a growing number of close calls on runways across the country including one last week at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
There was dense fog and poor visibility at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport on the morning of Feb. 4, 2023, when an air traffic controller cleared two planes to use the runway at the same time. A FedEx cargo plane had permission to land, while a Southwest Airlines jet carrying 128 passengers and crew was also cleared for takeoff.
Investigators say the FedEx plane aborted its landing at the last moment when the first officer saw the left position light and silhouette of the Southwest plane on the runway, soaring back into the air while the Southwest jet proceeded with its takeoff.
At their closest, investigators say the two planes were 150 to 170 feet apart.
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