Tue, Jun 23, 2009
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.
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