Former FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt discusses air traffic control system integrity after thousands of US flights were grounded due to system failure on The Claman Countdown.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are investigating the near-collision between two planes at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York on Friday.
An FAA spokesman told FOX Business that the potential collision was averted when a Boeing 737 operated by Delta Air Lines “came to a safe stop” as it began to take off “after air traffic controllers noticed that another aircraft was the The statement added, “According to preliminary analysis, Delta Air Lines Flight 1943 stopped its takeoff roll approximately 1,000 feet before reaching the point where American Airlines Flight 106, a Boeing 777, pulled off an adjacent runway had crossed.”
The FAA emphasized that its investigation is ongoing and that the information is preliminary and subject to change. The agency did not respond to a question about whether the incident fell into the FAA’s four runway incursion categories, which indicate the severity of an incident.
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An airplane takes off from an airport runway. (iStock / iStock)
Based on the details provided by the agency, the Jan. 13 New York incident likely falls into one of the stricter categories used by the FAA to evaluate runway raids.
What are runway incursions?
Runway incursions are airport incidents that occur when aircraft, vehicles or people are inadvertently within the restricted area designated for aircraft to land and take off. They differ from surface incidents, which involve unauthorized movement or an event in a specific area that could affect flight safety.
The FAA’s four categories of runway incursions present varying degrees of danger but fall short of an actual accident:
- Category A – the most severe type of impact – is a major incident where a collision was narrowly avoided.
- Category B incidents occur when the distance decreases and there is a significant potential for collision, which may prompt a time-sensitive corrective or evasive response to avoid a collision.
- Category C incidents are characterized by having sufficient time and/or distance to avoid a collision.
- Category D incidents involve the improper presence of an aircraft, person or vehicle in a protected area designated for landings and take-offs without having an immediate safety impact.
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American Airlines passenger jets prepare for departure near a terminal at Boston Logan International Airport in Boston. (AP Photo/Steven Senne) (AP Images)
To help air traffic controllers prevent Category A and B runways, the FAA developed the Airport Surface Detection System – Model X (ASDE-X), a surveillance radar that tracks surface movement of aircraft and vehicles on airport facilities and alerts controllers about them possible burglaries or other incidents.
As of October 31, 2022, ASDE-X radar was deployed at 35 major airports across the country, including John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City, where Friday’s incident occurred.
Runway incursions may be caused by operational incidents resulting from an air traffic controller’s action resulting in less than the minimum separation distance between aircraft; pilot deviations such as crossing a runway without clearance; and pedestrians or vehicles entering the airport’s movement areas without authorization from air traffic control.
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Delta Air Lines planes are seen at John F. Kennedy International Airport in Queens, New York City, the United States, on July 2, 2022 during the 4th of July weekend. (Portal/Andrew Kelly/File Photo / Portal Photos)
The number of runway incursions at US airports increased from 1,574 in FY2021 to 1,732 in FY2022, according to FAA data. The leading cause of incursions is pilot deviation, which was the cause of 1,084 incursions in FY2022, followed by deviations of vehicles and pedestrians, which were the source of 313 assaults. As of Jan. 11, the FAA has reported 27 runway raids this month.
Collisions between airliners can be catastrophic, and one such scenario resulted in the deadliest accident in aviation history on the Spanish island of Tenerife in 1977. Airport overcrowding due to the closure of another airport in the Canary Islands combined with poor visibility due to thick fog led to disaster when miscommunication between air traffic controllers and pilots resulted in one Boeing 747 taxiing on a runway in use by another to start. The tragic collision and fire claimed 583 lives and all 61 survivors were injured.
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Airlines respond to runway incident
The two airlines involved in the aborted takeoff and near miss in New York told FOX Business that they prioritize the safety of their passengers and crew and are assisting federal authorities in their investigations.
“The safety of our customers and crew is always a top priority for Delta. Delta will work with aviation authorities to assist with a full review of Flight 1943 on Jan. 13 for a successful aborted takeoff at New York-JFK,” a Delta Air Lines spokesman told FOX Business. “We apologize to our customers for the inconvenience and the delay in their travels.”
A spokesman for American Airlines told FOX Business, “The safety of our customers and team members is our top priority. We are conducting a full internal review and are working with the National Transportation Safety Board on their investigation.”