The Federal Aviation Administration has issued a safety alert to airlines and pilots after six near misses involving planes at US airports since the beginning of the year.
In a warning Wednesday, the FAA advised airlines of the “need for continued vigilance and vigilance to mitigate safety risks” following the series of incidents across the country.
“While the overall numbers do not reflect an increase in incidents and events, the potential seriousness of these events is of concern,” the FAA said in its alert.
The official warning comes just days after the FAA held an impromptu safety summit over growing passenger concerns.
Since January 1, near misses have occurred at John F. Kennedy, Seattle-Tacoma, Austin, Hollywood Burbank, Ronald Reagan Washington, Baltimore Washington International and other US airports.
Baltimore International Airport on January 12: A Southwest Airlines flight had a 173-foot near miss involving an ambulance crossing the runway without clearance
Baltimore Washington International: January 12
During the January Baltimore incident, a Southwest Airlines flight had a 173-foot near miss involving an ambulance crossing the runway without clearance.
According to an FAA report on the January incident, an airport rescue and firefighting vehicle (ARFF) was ordered by the tower to pause briefly on the runway but read back incorrect instructions that ground controllers failed to catch.
‘ARFF 439, you should hold short runway 15R!’ In the newly released air traffic control recordings, one of the controllers can be heard saying.
The Southwest Boeing 737 cleared for take-off descended the runway at approximately 1:50 p.m., narrowly missing the ambulance crossing the runway in front of the aircraft. There were no injuries in the near miss.
John F. Kennedy International Airport: On January 15, an American Airlines flight nearly collided with a Delta Airlines plane while the American Airlines flight was taking off
John F Kennedy International: January 13
Possibly the largest and most notable near miss occurred at John F. Kennedy International on January 13, when a Delta aircraft almost nose-first collided into the side of an American Airlines plane.
The Delta flight was flying over a New York Airport runway at around 8:45 p.m.
Air traffic control had ordered the American Airlines flight to cross “Runway 31L at Kilo” but instead crossed over runway 4 on the left at Juliet and crossed directly in front of the departing Delta flight.
The Delta pilot had to brake abruptly and traveled another 661 feet before coming to rest with just 1,000 feet before the plane would have T-boned the American Airlines Boeing 777.
Seattle Tacoma International on January 26: Two Alaska Airlines planes scraped their tails on takeoff due to a software bug that led pilots to believe their planes were 20,000 pounds lighter
Seattle-Tacoma International: January 26
Less than two weeks after the JFK incident, two Alaska Airlines planes scraped the runway at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on takeoff.
This near miss was attributed to a software bug that led pilots to believe their planes were 20,000 pounds lighter.
The problem was serious enough that Alaska Airlines immediately initiated a statewide grounding of all aircraft.
An American Airlines plane was seen crossing the path of a Delta plane as it was about to take off. Air traffic control called ‘s***!’ when they noticed the possible collision
Austin International Airport: February 4th
On Feb. 4 in Texas, air traffic control had to urgently tell a Southwest jet to abort its takeoff lest they collide with a FedEx pilot who was landing his jet.
The Southwest jet bound for Cancun, Mexico, was given the OK to take off from Texas’ Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, but it appeared to be taking too long.
As it attempted to begin ascent, the Boeing 767 cargo plane approached its landing.
The disaster was avoided by quick-thinking pilots of the cargo plane, who were forced to make a quick go-around, narrowly avoiding a collision.
Austin International Airport on February 4: A Southwest jet bound for Mexico received the OK to take off, but apparently it was taking too long. As it attempted to begin ascent, a Boeing 767 cargo plane approached its landing
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport: March 7
On March 7, Republic Airlines Flight 4736 almost collided with United Airlines Flight 2003 after crossing a runway at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport without permission.
It had been cleared to cross another runway, but the pilot made a wrong turn.
“United 2003 is canceling takeoff clearance,” the controller said. ‘Abort launch, abort launch United 2003.’
Ronald Reagan Washington International March 7: Republic Airlines Flight 4736 nearly collides with United Airlines Flight 2003 after crossing a runway without permission
Hollywood Burbank Airport: February 22 and March 18
This comes after Hollywood Burbank Airport experienced two near misses involving planes in just a few weeks in February and March.
In the most recent incident, on March 18, a plane nearly collided with a helicopter that was on the runway where the plane was attempting to land.
According to an FAA statement, the helicopter had been practicing touch-and-go landings. After noticing the problem, the air traffic controller requested the Boeing 737 to turn back.
At the same airport in February, a Mesa Airlines flight was told to abort its landing after a SkyWest plane was given the green light to take off on the same runway.
During this incident, an automatic alarm went off on the Mesa Airlines plane as the planes worked to avoid a near miss.
Anther’s near miss was reported in Boston earlier this year.
Hollywood Burbank Airport on March 18: A Southwest Airlines flight was ordered to “turn around” because of a helicopter on the runway. This is the second incident at the Southern California airport in a few weeks
Southwest aircraft were involved in several incidents of near misses this year
In their warning Wednesday, officials with the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board said they are continuing to investigate the series of incidents that have raised concerns
In their warning Wednesday, officials with the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board said they are continuing to investigate the series of incidents that have raised concerns.
They urge pilots and airlines to “evaluate information” to address safety concerns.
“Operators should evaluate the information gathered through their safety management processes, identify hazards, increase and improve safety communications with employees, and take mitigating action,” the FAA statement said.
Last week, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said the US could not wait for a “catastrophic event” to address safety concerns.
NTSB Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy agreed: “There were far too many close decisions. These recent incidents must serve as a wake-up call.’
FAA officials, including Acting Administrator Billy Nolen, have said they are currently forming a team to review security procedures.
Nolen called the string of near misses last month a “call to action.”
FAA officials, including Acting Administrator Billy Nolen, have said they are currently forming a team to review security procedures
FAA officials said a Southwest flight was approaching a runway at Hollywood Burbank Airport around 9:50 a.m. Saturday, March 18, when the near miss occurred
This is Hollywood Burbank Airport, which has seen two near misses in just a few weeks
In an interview with NBC Nightly News host Lester Holt last week, Nolen said officials have begun to “see things that we don’t expect” when it comes to near misses.
“We expect every flight to perform as it should,” Nolen said.
“And so we’ve had these events over the past few weeks. That gives us a moment to say, “Let’s stop. Let’s think. Let’s ask ourselves: are we missing anything?” he said.
Nolen said more people are flying and more planes are in the air due to “pent-up demand for flights.”
“Flying has come back with a vengeance, so to speak,” Nolen said.