Construction Crew Crossed Active Runway

The NTSB has released a preliminary report for a runway incursion incident, in which a construction vehicle crossed an active runway at Boston's Logan International Airport as a USAirways Airbus A320 was on its takeoff roll.

According to the NTSB report:

On Thursday, June 18, 2009 at about 0636 eastern daylight time, a runway incursion occurred at the General Edward Lawrence Logan International Airport (BOS), Boston, Massachusetts involving a USAirways Airbus and a construction vehicle. The construction crew crossed runway 15R at taxiway M without approval as the Airbus was on departure roll.

According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the operator of a Ford Explorer, was not in radio communication with BOS tower air traffic controllers and had not been cleared to cross runway 15R. The Airbus rotated approximately 500 feet from the intersection of runway 15R and taxiway M as the vehicle cleared the runway edge southbound on taxiway M. The FAA stated that it appeared the tower controller was aware of the vehicle operating on taxiway M but not its intension to cross. The ground radar alerted the controllers of the event.

Taxiway M is currently under construction and runway 15R is occasionally closed due to the construction. The Airport Authority designates the runway closure with signage which was not in place during this event indicating that the runway was an active runway. The Airport Authority also indicated that all personnel were briefed that the runway was active. The driver of the
vehicle indicated that he had not been briefed to that fact. The driver has been suspended from driving on the airport pending an investigation.

The Airport Authority has ceased all construction upon completion of an investigation into the incident. USAirways flight 27, an Airbus A320, was departing Boston for Phoenix, Arizona with 84 passengers and five. There were no injuries to the crew and passengers nor damage to the airplane. The incident occurred during daylight visual meteorological conditions.

FMI: www.ntsb.gov