Airlines

A near-collision between 2 planes in Austin prompts an FAA investigation

The Federal Aviation Administration reported that a Southwest Airlines plane was given the go-ahead to depart from the same runway at an airport in Austin, Texas, forcing a FedEx cargo plane to alter its course during an attempted landing.

On Saturday morning, the FedEx plane was given the go-ahead to land while still a distance away from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, the FAA reported. The Southwest flight was given the all clear to depart by an air traffic controller just before the FedEx plane was scheduled to land.

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The incident happened when Austin-Bergstrom International Airport air traffic controllers authorised a FedEx cargo plane to land on the same runway that a Southwest passenger plane was authorised to take off on. Once the error was discovered, the FedEx jet aborted its landing and climbed back to its original height.

According to a statement from the Federal Aviation Administration, “the pilot of the FedEx jet abandoned the landing and commenced a climb out.” A FedEx spokeswoman later told the reporters that their plane also made a safe landing after the incident, and the Southwest plane was able to take off without problem.

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The incident was described as a “potential runway incursion and overflight” in a tweet by the National Transportation Safety Board. Flightradar24’s flight data reveals the two aircraft approaching one another on the runway.

The NTSB is investigating an incident involving a Southwest 737 and FedEx 767 that occurred today in Austin. Initial ADS-B data show the landing 767 overflying the departing 737. We are processing granular data now. https://t.co/twHCydm5ix https://t.co/wZ3Z0xKJem pic.twitter.com/nkKVjshXmf
— Flightradar24 (@flightradar24) February 5, 2023
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In a statement, FedEx claimed that their cargo plane from Memphis safely touched down at the airport “after encountering an occurrence.” According to FlightAware data, the Southwest Airlines flight departed Austin 15 minutes later than expected but made an early arrival in Cancun, Mexico.

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Related Topics:FedEx Plane southwest airlines

Airlines

Air India Express Aircraft Engine Part Falls Outside Delhi Airport; DGCA Orders Probe

Air India Express flight skids off runway while landing at Kochi airport

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has launched an inquiry following reports that metal fragments were discovered at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport after an Air India Express flight made an emergency landing on Monday evening.

The emergency landing was prompted by a detected engine fault, but fortunately, the landing was executed safely without any injuries to the passengers.

The situation began when crew members of the Air India Express flight reported an engine issue, leading to the emergency landing. The DGCA has confirmed that a thorough investigation is underway and has directed that the aircraft undergo a comprehensive safety inspection.

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The discovery of metal debris outside the airport has raised concerns, prompting the DGCA to probe whether these fragments are linked to the aircraft involved in the emergency landing. Authorities are particularly focused on whether the metal pieces, which were found near the airport, originated from the same Air India Express flight that experienced engine trouble.

While preliminary assessments suggest that the debris could be a broken blade from an aircraft engine, the exact source remains unconfirmed. The airline has yet to verify if the metal fragments are from their aircraft.

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The Delhi Police, working in conjunction with the DGCA, have initiated their own investigation to determine the origin of the metal pieces. A technical team is set to analyze whether the fragments are associated with the aircraft in question. As the investigation continues, a case has been filed with the airport authority to address the matter.