Runway Incursion, "Passenger Revolt" Under Investigation

There's yet another runway incursion incident to tell you about, this one at Philadelphia International Airport. A US Airways pilot took a wrong turn on a taxiway just before midnight Sunday, sending that aircraft into the path of an oncoming Air Wisconsin plane.

FAA spokeswoman Arlene Salac told the Associated Press the pilot of the US Airways flight, which had just arrived from Las Vegas, turned left when he should have turned right... and crossed an active runway. Air traffic controllers told the oncoming Air Wisconsin plane to turn at the nearest taxiway, to avoid a collision.

The aircraft never came within 1,000 feet of each other, Salac said, according to a preliminary investigation.

US Airways spokeswoman Morgan Durrant said the incident is under investigation. The veteran pilot -- who has worked for US Air for more than 20 years, hasn't been pulled from flight duty, she added.

Meanwhile, in a separate incident a US Airways 767 bound for Munich finally departed PHL Friday morning, after spending almost 12 hours parked on the ramp with fuming passengers inside.

Authorities told CBS-3 mechanical problems delayed the jet, which was supposed to depart at 8 pm Thursday night. The television station reports after several failed departure attempts -- and "a passenger revolt" -- the plane finally got the heck out of Philadelphia just before 7 am Friday morning.

At this writing, the Boeing 767 is winging its way to Europe. We imagine the passengers will have some stories to share once the plane lands.

FMI: www.usairways.com