The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is currently investigating a near miss involving two passenger jets at Reagan National Airport in Arlington, Virginia, that occurred on Thursday morning. This incident involved a JetBlue flight bound for Boston and a Southwest Airlines flight heading to Orlando, which nearly collided due to what appears to be an air traffic control oversight.
According to reports, the two aircraft came alarmingly close—within 400 feet of each other—prompting air traffic controllers to take immediate action to prevent a potential disaster. The critical moment came at 7:41 a.m. when a controller urgently instructed the JetBlue flight, which was accelerating for takeoff on Runway 4, to stop immediately.
Simultaneously, the Southwest flight, which was approaching the same runway, received a similar urgent command to halt its movement. Recordings from air traffic control reveal the tense exchanges, including multiple commands directed at both aircraft to stop all movement to avoid a collision.
John Nance, an aviation analyst for ABC News and Good Morning America, described the situation as “unacceptably close.” He explained that the incident highlighted a breakdown in situational awareness between controllers, a scenario that is highly unusual given the typically seamless coordination within air traffic control operations.
Nance further detailed that the JetBlue aircraft was traveling at about 34 knots (approximately 39 mph) and was mere moments from reaching speeds where it would become airborne. The swift reaction of the air traffic control, therefore, was crucial in averting what could have been a severe accident.
Both flights eventually taxied back to the gates and departed safely for their destinations shortly after the incident. Nance emphasized that while the air traffic control system ultimately prevented a collision, the event exposed significant vulnerabilities in the current safety protocols.
This close call at Reagan National not only highlights the risks associated with air traffic control but also underscores the importance of maintaining rigorous safety standards to protect passengers. The FAA’s ongoing investigation will seek to understand the root causes of this near miss and implement measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, wtop.com
