Agency Asserts Incident Did Not Compromise Safety

The Federal Aviation Administration has completed its second look at a recent runway incursion incident at San Diego International Airport/Lindbergh Field, and placed the blame on a mistake by an air traffic controller.

As ANN reported, on the evening of January 16 a Hawker Siddeley corporate jet had just landed, and was preparing to taxi clear of the airport's only runway. But a brief mechanical issue required it to stop, still on the runway.

The controller, meanwhile, didn't immediately notice the stop, and cleared Southwest Flight 1626 for takeoff on the same runway. As the Boeing 737 sped toward the smaller jet, the controller noticed the runway wasn't clear, and called for the Southwest crew to abort the takeoff. The crew decided it was too late to safely bring the jet to a stop, and continued the takeoff.

FAA spokesman Ian Gregor says the 737 came within 2,500 feet of the Hawker, 500 feet closer than previously acknowledged. He told the San Diego Union tribune, "There was no collision hazard because Southwest took off a half-mile from where the (other plane) was."

Despite the fact the smaller jet essentially eliminated part of the runway's safety margin for the departing 737, Gregor had stated last week the FAA did not consider the incident a safety breach. The National Air Traffic Controllers Association accused the agency of a cover-up... and the FAA responded by saying it was taking a deeper look.

Now, Gregor says the FAA is continuing its review.

NATCA's San Diego-area chapter president, Melvin Davis, told the Union-Tribune the incident should have raised a red flag with the FAA from the start, and was a symptom of short-staffing which has forced controllers to work overtime. Both the FAA and the union have described the controller, who was not identified, as a longtime employee with a good safety record. The union said he's been working six-day weeks.

NATCA, which is prohibited by law from striking over its contract dispute with the FAA, has responded by working to discredit the FAA among travelers and lawmakers.

Rep. Bob Filner, D-San Diego, is now requesting a congressional investigation into the incursion incident, the first at Lindbergh since late 2003.

FMI: www.san.org, www.natca.org