Jets Came Closer Than Previously Reported

The National Transportation Safety Board says it will investigate last week's runway incursion in Los Angeles, CA... in which two airliners may have missed each other by less than 40 feet.  

As ANN reported, on August 16, at approximately 1300 Pacific daylight time, WestJet (WJA) 900, a Boeing 737, and Northwest Airlines (NWA) flight 180, an Airbus A320, almost collided at the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), according to the Federal Aviation Administration.

The NTSB states the WestJet flight landed on runway 24R, exited the runway, and held between the parallel runways as directed by the tower.  However, without authorization, the WestJet crew changed radio frequencies and contacted ground control.

When contacted by the WestJet crew, the ground controller assumed that they had been cleared to cross runway 24L, and provided instructions for the WestJet flight to taxi to its gate.  However, the tower controller expected the WestJet flight to hold and cleared the Northwest flight to takeoff from runway 24L.

The ground controller then realized that WestJet had not been instructed to cross runway 24L... and told the WestJet flight to stop. According to the FAA, the WestJet airplane crossed the hold short line for runway 24L and the two aircraft came within 37 feet as the Northwest flight crossed directly in front of the WestJet flight during its takeoff roll. (That's even closer than earlier reports indicated.)

The Board notes that the Airport Movement Area Safety System (AMASS) at LAX was operational at the time of the incident, but it is unknown whether or not it activated. That will be one of many questions the NTSB will have for airport officials, controllers, and the pilots involved.

FMI: www.ntsb.gov