Key takeaways:
- A potentially catastrophic collision between a FedEx cargo jet and a Southwest Airlines jet was narrowly avoided at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport.
- The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said the FedEx aircraft had been cleared to land on Runway 18 Left, but shortly before the FedEx aircraft was due to land, the controller cleared Southwest Flight 708 to depart from the same runway.
- The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is now investigating “a possible runway incursion and overflight” involving the two aircraft.
On Saturday, a potentially catastrophic collision between a FedEx cargo jet and a Southwest Airlines jet was narrowly avoided at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said the FedEx aircraft had been cleared to land on Runway 18 Left several miles from the runway. However, shortly before the FedEx aircraft was due to land, the controller cleared Southwest Flight 708 to depart from the same runway.
In response, the FedEx flight “discontinued the landing and initiated a climb out” and “the two aircraft passed each other with an estimated separation of 1,000 feet,” the FAA said.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is now investigating “a possible runway incursion and overflight” involving the two aircraft.
The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of air traffic controllers in ensuring the safety of passengers and crew. The FAA said it is “committed to ensuring the safety of the traveling public” and is “working with the NTSB to determine the facts of this incident.”
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