- The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on Wednesday, issued a warning to all airlines after several recent near-miss incidents
- The Safety Alert For Operators (SAFO) comes after near-miss incidents on the ground at U.S. airports
- Six serious runway incursions have occurred so far this calendar year
- The FAA said the number of events so far in 2023 has been “concerning”
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on Wednesday, issued a warning to all airlines after several recent near-miss incidents.
The Safety Alert For Operators (SAFO) comes after near-miss incidents on the ground at U.S. airports.
The notice “informs the aviation community that several highly visible and notable recent
events demonstrate the need for continued vigilance and attention to mitigation of safety risks,” the FAA said in a statement.
Six serious runway incursions have occurred so far this calendar year.
In January, a taxiing American Airlines Boeing 777 crossed onto an active runway, forcing a Delta Air Lines pilot at the helm of a 737 to stop its takeoff roll. The two planes reportedly came only 1,000 feet from each other. The incident could have ended in a catastrophe.
Delta later apologized to its customers for the incident on Twitter.
“In recent months, a number of notable and high visibility events have occurred in the
National Airspace System (NAS). While the overall numbers do not reflect an increase in incidents and occurrences, the potential severity of these events is concerning,” the FAA said in its bulletin Wednesday.
At Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas, a landing aircraft came within only 100 feet of a departing aircraft, narrowly avoiding disaster.
“Recent events have highlighted several areas of focus. Directors of Operations,
Chief Pilots, Directors of Training, Check Airmen, Directors of Safety, Program Managers, Pilots and Operators should review the following items and consider taking additional steps to ensure operations are conducted at the highest level of safety, including changes to procedures or training, if appropriate,” the FAA said Wednesday.
All three major American carriers, United Airlines, American Airlines and Delta Air Lines saw their stock fall by the end of trading Wednesday, following the FAA safety bulletin.