An American Airlines flight bound for Boston was forced to abort its takeoff at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on Wednesday morning to avoid another plane that was landing. This incident marks the second such occurrence at the Washington, DC, airport in the past six weeks.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are investigating the incident. The FAA explained that an air traffic controller canceled the takeoff clearance for American Airlines Flight 2134 because another aircraft had been cleared to land on an intersecting runway.
Air traffic control audio from LiveATC.net captured the critical moment. Despite the scare, Flight 2134 eventually made it to Boston, arriving four hours late, according to the flight tracking website FlightAware.
Previous Incident and Ongoing Safety Concerns
In mid-April, the FAA began investigating a similar incident where two jetliners were put on an apparent collision course as they were departing Reagan National Airport, leading air traffic controllers to urgently radio each plane to stop.
Wednesday’s aborted takeoff comes amidst heightened scrutiny of air safety following multiple incidents over Memorial Day weekend. These included aircraft accidents and mechanical issues, which have brought renewed attention to airline safety practices.
Air Travel Safety
While the FAA and NTSB continue their investigations, aviation experts maintain that commercial flights remain one of the safest modes of transportation in the United States. Nonetheless, these recent incidents have prompted calls for a closer examination of air traffic control procedures and overall flight safety measures to ensure the continued safety of air travel.