FAA investigates after planes almost collide on runway at Reagan National Airport
ARLINGTON, Va. (7News) — The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is investigating after two planes almost collided at Reagan National Airport (DCA) on Wednesday morning, according to ABC News.
According to the FAA, an air traffic controller canceled the takeoff clearance for an American Airlines flight as a smaller King Air plane was cleared to land on an intersecting runway.
Air traffic control data retrieved from LiveATC revealed that the King Air plane was already on the ground as the takeoff clearance for American Airlines was canceled.
READ MORE | New survey focuses on aircraft noise south of Reagan National Airport
The incident happened around 10:30 a.m.
A similar situation occurred on April 18 when a JetBlue plane and a Southwest Airlines plane almost collided as they crossed over the same runway.
American Airlines shared the following statement:
“The safety of our customers and team members is our top priority, and we’re grateful to our crew for their professionalism. We will support the FAA in its investigation.”
After 7News reported on this incident, Senator Tim Kaine (D-Va.) pointed to a recent bill passed by Congress that would bring more flights to DCA, saying, "...this incident underscores again that DCA is at capacity. This shows why Senate action to jam even more flights into DCA was so dangerous."
The $105 million bill, which was approved on May 15, would increase the number of air traffic controllers, add more safety inspectors and require airlines to pay refunds to travelers whose flights are canceled or significantly delayed.
The bill would also add about 10 long-haul flights a day to and from DCA.
ncG1vNJzZmivmpawtcKNnKamZ56axLR7zZqroqeeYsSwvsudZq2vn2K9ra3NnqpmmZyivLTAjJympaSZmbJusMKaZKunnpa5pXnRnpigmZ5ixKK%2Fx6KloKyfo3qvrdOipqeZnGKuqr7PqKmtZaeWwKm1zaCrqKZdmbBurcyeqaKbkaN6orXRpaCnnaNiuKq6xmaYoqpdm66iecinrZ6rpJ60osDIqKVmoZ6psrO%2FxJyroqaXYr%2B2utaasGaelZmys63LZpivoZGptrC6jJqbpqGensC1vsCtoKimXZu5qrPHrWSsmZaawbo%3D