US agencies investigate near collision of two planes at New York’s JFK Airport
- Delta Air Lines plane aborted its take-off when American Airlines crossed the runway in front of it
- Both the Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board are investigating
US officials are investigating a close call at a New York airport Friday night between a plane that was crossing a runway and another that was preparing for take-off.
“(Expletive)! Delta 1943, cancel take-off clearance! Delta 1943, cancel take-off clearance!” an air controller said in an audio recording of Air Traffic Control communications when he noticed the other plane, operated by American Airlines, crossing in front. The recording was made by LiveATC, a website that monitors and posts flight communications.
Delta Air Lines’ departing Boeing 737 plane then came to a safe stop on the John F. Kennedy International Airport runway as the other crossed in front around 8.45pm, the Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement.
Brian Heale, a passenger on the Delta flight, said at first he thought the abrupt stop was a mechanical issue.
“There was this abrupt jerk of the plane, and everyone was sort of thrust forward from the waist,” he recalled. “There was an audible reaction when the brakes happened, like a gasp. And then there was a total silence for a couple of seconds.”
Heale, who was travelling with his husband for their winter getaway to the Dominican Republic, said it wasn’t until he was scrolling on Twitter the next day that he realised the gravity of what could have happened on that runway.
