Construction Vehicle Crossed In Front Of Departing USAirways Jet

The preliminary investigation into a runway incursion at Boston Logan International Airport this month has found that the driver of a construction vehicle improperly crossed an active runway. A sign that would have told the driver the runway was closed was not in place at the time of the incident, and airport authorities say the construction crew had been told the runway was active.

The preliminary report reads:

NTSB Identification: OPS09IA008
Scheduled 14 CFR Part 121: Air Carrier operation of USAirways
Incident occurred Thursday, June 18, 2009 in Boston, MA
Aircraft: AIRBUS A320, registration: N662AW
Injuries: 89 Uninjured.

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.

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 crew. 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