FAA Launching Investigation Into Near-Collision at Airport

(USNewsBreak.com) – The airline industry has fallen under a lot of scrutiny recently. Not only are there safety issues cropping up in whistleblower reports, but a long series of near-misses at airports across the country have increased concerns. A recent incident has led the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to launch an investigation.

On Wednesday, May 29, American Airlines flight 2134 was awaiting takeoff at Arlington’s Reagan National Airport after receiving clearance from the tower. However, at the same time, another flight, a private jet from King Air, received clearance to land. While they were on two different runways, the tarmacs crossed each other, and the miscommunication could have resulted in a collision. Fortunately, the air traffic tower was able to abort the American Airlines takeoff in time to avoid what would’ve been a tragic incident.

FAA Investigates Second Near-Collision at Reagan Washington National Airport

The incident comes after Senate and House lawmakers approved adding five additional daily flights to the busy airport as part of the FAA reauthorization bill.https://t.co/Drwei2N9Kc

— The Epoch Times (@EpochTimes) May 31, 2024

The FAA is now investigating the incident and everything that led up to the clearances and the aborted takeoff.

Shockingly, this wasn’t the first time this year that flight controllers made this type of error. Another incident occurred just over six weeks ago. On April 18, a Southwest pilot received instructions from the air traffic controller to cross a runway. However, a departing Jet Blue flight was using that tarmac.

These two near-misses have raised concerns that Reagan National Airport has become overburdened. Approximately two million fliers travel through the facility each month. A bipartisan law increased the number of flights into and out of the airport. Now, that measure is coming under scrutiny again.

Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) posted on X, formerly Twitter, expressing his relief that the incident ended without any injuries or worse. Yet, it highlighted why adding “even more flights into DCA was so dangerous.”

Still, despite the incidents, the FAA maintained that “Aviation is the safest way to travel” and that the number of concerning incidents nationwide has dropped 33% this year compared to last.