Crash averted at Austin airport; FAA, NTSB to analyze

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — A FedEx cargo airplane making an attempt to land at Austin-Bergstrom Worldwide Airport on Saturday needed to reverse course after a second aircraft was cleared to depart from the identical runway, in accordance with the Federal Aviation Administration.

“The pilot of the FedEx airplane discontinued the touchdown and initiated a climb out,” the FAA mentioned in an announcement.

The Boeing 767 cargo airplane was a number of miles from the airport when it was cleared to land, in accordance with the FAA. However simply earlier than it was anticipated to land, an air site visitors controller gave the go-ahead for an airplane operated by Southwest Airways to take off.

In a tweet Saturday, the Nationwide Transportation Security Board described it as a “potential runway incursion and overflight involving airplanes from Southwest Airways and FedEx.”

The Southwest flight was capable of depart safely, in accordance with the FAA.

The FAA and NTSB mentioned they’re investigating the incident.

The same shut name was averted at John F. Kennedy Worldwide Airport last month after an American Airways aircraft crossed a runway whereas a Delta Airways’ Boeing 737 aircraft was making ready for takeoff. The Delta aircraft stopped about 1,000 ft (about 0.3 kilometers) from the place the American Airways aircraft had crossed from an adjoining taxiway, in accordance with the FAA assertion.

Austin-Bergstrom is 5 miles (8 kilometers) southeast of Austin.