After a Delta pilot averted disaster at Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) last month, an initial report shows that air traffic control mistakenly gave clearance to an American Airlines Boeing 737-800 to take off, as the Delta Air Lines Airbus A319-100 was coming in to land. The United States National Transportation Safety Board ( NTSB) has released its preliminary report for the incident on June 20, which has highlighted several critical errors.
Delta Flight 2351 from Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) to Boston was coming into land on June 20, when American Flight 3161 to Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) was cleared for departure. The pilot of the Delta flight noticed the error, and his quick actions saved the potential disaster.
Delta Flight Was On Final Approach To Boston As The American Flight Intersected The Runway
The report identifies that the Delta A319 was cleared to land and was on final approach to Runway 33L, at the same time as the American 737 was preparing to take off from intersecting Runway 27. The AA flight had been provided clearance for takeoff at 11:33:43 AM, and the AA crew had only halted takeoff due to a false cockpit warning.
The AA aircraft resumed its takeoff roll, and as the narrowbody aircraft began to accelerate, the Delta crew identified the mistake and then initiated the go-around when they realized the runway intersection would not be clear. The NTSB has estimated that these two aircraft were within 670 feet (204 m) of each other. Audio recordings have captured the exchange between the American flight crew and air traffic controller as below:
“American 3161, where you going?” the controller asked. “You cleared us for takeoff,” the American Airlines crew replied.
Post-Incident Interviews Revealed No Notable Distractions
Following the incident, the NTSB conducted interviews with all parties involved, and within the air traffic control tower, it was identified that there were no notable distractions or anomalies within the tower cab. The controllers described the traffic and complexity as moderate to low, and that the American aircraft was cleared for takeoff, under the belief that it would continue its takeoff roll, instead of pausing due to the cockpit false warning.
The controller then focused his attention back to another arriving aircraft, Tradewind Air flight GPD82, ensuring that this aircraft would clear the runway for the incoming Delta flight. Multiple taxi instructions are believed to have been issued at a similar time. When the Delta pilots confirmed they would attempt a go-around, the controller then became aware of the potential runway incursion.
Following the near-miss, the NTSB incident investigation continues to be ongoing, and further report findings are likely to be released on how the incident unfolded. There were no injuries or harm to any passengers or crew of any of the aircraft involved.
Conflicting air control orders cause a close call.
Flight Details Of Delta And American Aircraft
The inbound Delta flight was operated by one of the carrier’s Airbus A319-100 aircraft, which carried registration N328NB. The flight had a total of 131 passengers onboard, with five crew members. For American, its service was operated by a Boeing 737-800 bearing registration N316PF, with 176 passengers and six crew onboard. Further aircraft characteristics below as per ch-aviation:
The quick actions of the Delta pilots who spotted the American beginning its roll down the strip that was perpendicular to the runway that they were approaching enabled them to inform the ATC that they were to complete a go-around to avoid the potential catastrophe, with the only aftermath being that the flight was marginally delayed.
While it appears to be a collapse in the communication between the American aircraft and air traffic control, the incident again highlights the breakdown in situational awareness at airports and the immense pressure that is currently placed on the US airport system, and the increase in near misses due to poor ATC control or inadequate aircraft separation.
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