Federal Investigation Launched After Near Collision at LaGuardia Airport

On May 6, a potentially catastrophic incident occurred at LaGuardia Airport when a Republic Airways jet was cleared for takeoff while a United Airlines plane was still taxiing across the runway. The jet was forced to abort its takeoff in order to avoid a collision. The incident has sparked a federal probe by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).

According to recordings of tower audio obtained by ABC via LiveATC, the incident was caused by a controller’s error. The controller mistakenly believed that the United plane had cleared the runway in time for the Republic Airways jet to take off. However, a ground controller had directed the United plane to switch taxiways after missing its exit, leading to miscommunication and the near-collision.

This incident has raised concerns about the safety measures in place at LaGuardia Airport. It is one of only 35 airports in the United States that uses the FAA’s advanced ASDE-X radar system, which is designed to prevent runway incursions. However, runway incidents remain steady at 30 per 1 million takeoffs and landings. The majority of U. S. airports, 490 in total, still rely on outdated tools like binoculars for air traffic control.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has been pushing for a multibillion-dollar upgrade to modernize air traffic control systems, criticizing the use of “copper wire and floppy disks” in current systems. In light of this incident, LaGuardia Airport has announced plans to add additional safety measures to prevent future close calls.

This incident is not an isolated one, as there have been other near-misses at major airports in recent months. Newark Liberty International Airport experienced system outages due to aging technology, and a similar incident occurred at Ronald Reagan National Airport in February when an American Airlines flight aborted its landing due to another plane taking off on the same runway.

The incident at LaGuardia has highlighted the urgent need for modernization of air traffic control systems. The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are now conducting investigations into the matter, putting pressure on Congress to provide funding for infrastructure upgrades to ensure the safety of passengers and prevent future incidents.