Departing LR-60 Crosses Path of Arriving E-190

The FAA is investigating what the agency has referred to as a “close call” between a Hop-A-Jet Learjet 60 (LR-60) registration N280LJ and an Embraer E190 (E190-E2) registration N179JB operating as JetBlue Flight 206 at Boston’s Logan International Airport (BOS).  

According to the FAA, the 27 February 2023 incident saw the LR-60 depart BOS Runway 09 without clearance as the E190 touched down on BOS Runway 04R. The two runways intersect near their respective touchdown points.

In a post-incident statement, the FAA reported: "An air traffic controller instructed the pilot of the Learjet to line up and wait on Runway 09 while the JetBlue Embraer 190 landed on Runway 04-Right, which intersects Runway 09. The Learjet pilot read back the instructions clearly but began a takeoff roll instead."

The Hop-A-Jet Learjet 60 was departing BOS with a filed destination of Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport (FLL). The LR-60 reportedly taxied to Runway 09 with instructions to line up and wait (taxi into position and hold for those of us who remember a more elegant time) pending arrival of JetBlue Flight 206, which, at the time, was on final approach to BOS Runway 04R. However, instead of holding in position as directed by Air Traffic Control (ATC), the Learjet commenced its takeoff roll, accelerating eastbound.

At 18:54.54.667 EST, the LR-60 entered the intersection of Runways 09 and 04R at a groundspeed of 82-knots. At 23:54:54.507—sixteen-one-hundredths-of-a-second prior to the LR-60’s entering the Runway 09-04R intersection—JetBlue Flight 206 passed the Runway 04R number markings at a ground speed of 132-knots. At the time the JetBlue E190 crossed the threshold of Runway 04R, it was approximately 565-feet southwest of the Hop-A-Jet LR-60.

The FAA’s statement set forth: " ... [the] pilot of the JetBlue aircraft took evasive action and initiated a climb-out as the Learjet crossed the intersection."

Online flight data shows the JetBlue Flight 206, which was inbound from Nashville International Airport (BNA) , arrived BOS safely at 19:13 EST.

The Hop-A-Jet LR-60 arrived FLL without further incident two-hours fifty-minutes after takeoff.

Following the occurrence, a JetBlue spokesman stated: "On Monday, February 27, JetBlue flight 206 landed safely in Boston after our pilots were instructed to perform a go-around by air traffic controllers. Safety is JetBlue’s first priority and our crews are trained to react to situations like this."

In a subsequent statement, JetBlue asserted: "We will assist authorities as they investigate this incident."

According to ADS-B data, the involved aircraft passed within 531-feet of each other.  

The FAA’s preliminary statement regarding the incident reads:

The FAA is investigating a close call between a Learjet and a JetBlue flight Monday night at Boston Logan International Airport. According to a preliminary review, the pilot of a Learjet 60 took off without clearance while JetBlue Flight 206 was preparing to land on an intersecting runway.

The incident occurred shortly before 7 p.m. Eastern time. An air traffic controller instructed the pilot of the Learjet to line up and wait on Runway 9 while the JetBlue Embraer 190 landed on Runway 4-Right, which intersects Runway 9. The Learjet pilot read back the instructions clearly but began a takeoff roll instead. The pilot of the JetBlue aircraft took evasive action and initiated a climb-out as the Learjet crossed the intersection. The Learjet was operated by Hop-A-Jet, a private charter company.

The FAA will determine the closest proximity between the two aircraft as part of the investigation.

FMI: www.faa.gov