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Newly released audio details how a Southwest pilot remained on the tarmac at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas on Saturday morning, despite being warned that a FedEx flight was approaching.
Air traffic control audio revealed that the crew aboard a Southwest flight headed to Cancun, Mexico, knew the cargo plane was approaching the runway when they were cleared to depart.
But the crew remained grounded as the Boeing 767 cargo plane approached the runway, forcing it to go into a spin.
The crew aboard the cargo plane could be heard trying to get the Southwest flight to ‘abort’ its takeoff, which they refused, and it took off just 75 vertical feet from the oncoming cargo flight.
Fortunately, the crew reacted quickly and aborted the landing just in time to avoid what could have been a fatal accident. The National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration are now investigating the incident.
A FedEx cargo plane nearly crashed into a Southwest flight departing early Saturday from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas.
Air traffic control recordings released Saturday night show that at around 6:47 a.m., the tower cleared Southwest for takeoff, noting that the FedEx plane is only three miles behind them and approaching track 18 Left.
“Copy the traffic,” the pilot replies.
Soon, the FedEx pilot could be heard asking if he is confirmed to land on runway 18 left, which an air traffic controller tells him he is.
But when the Southwest flight remained on the runway, air traffic controllers asked if it was planning to leave.
“Rolling now,” the pilot replies.
At that point, weekly trips The FedEx crew reportedly initiated a go-around and told the Southwest crew to abort takeoff.
‘Southwest abort’, a male voice, presumably the FedEx pilot, could be heard telling the crew: ‘FedEx is underway’.
Instead, the Southwest crew simply answers “negative” and begins to climb into the air.
The Boeing 767 cargo plane then completed its turn and landed shortly after without incident, Travel Weekly reports.
After it landed and cleared the runway, the Austin-American Statesman reports, air traffic controllers apologize to the pilot and thank him for his professionalism.
Air traffic control recordings released Saturday night show that at around 6:47 a.m., the tower cleared Southwest for takeoff, noting that the FedEx plane is only three miles behind them and approaching track 18 Left.
The Southwest Airlines Boeing 737, shown in yellow, had remained on the runway while the FedEx Boeing 767, shown in orange, had been cleared to land.
The altitude of the FedEx plane shows it descending before a sudden and abrupt increase in altitude
The FedEx cargo plane was landing at Austin Bergstrom Airport when it was forced to stop (file image)
The FAA has previously said that FedEx Express Flight 1432, a Boeing 767 cargo plane, which had departed from Memphis, was cleared to land on runway 18 left around 6:40 a.m. while the plane was several miles from airport.
The Southwest plane had not yet departed when the FedEx plane approached the runway.
“Shortly before the FedEx aircraft landed, the controller cleared Southwest Flight 708 from the same runway,” the Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement.
“The pilot of the FedEx plane aborted the landing and began a climb.”
The Southwest flight to Cancun, Mexico continued to take off even as the FedEx cargo plane was directly overhead.
The Southwest plane was able to depart safely, according to the FAA.
Data from flight tracking websites suggests the two planes came very close. In the image, the route of the FedEx cargo plane that had to abort the landing and then circle the airport.
Meanwhile, in a tweet on Saturday, the National Transportation Safety Board used jargon to downplay the incident, describing it as a “possible runway incursion and flyover by Southwest Airlines and FedEx aircraft.”
Southwest has so far declined to comment. FedEx said its flight “landed safely after encountering an event” but declined to comment further due to ongoing investigations.
The FAA and NTSB said they are investigating the serious incident.
“FedEx Express Flight 1432 from Memphis, Tennessee to Austin, Texas, landed safely after encountering an event just prior to landing at Austin Bergstrom International Airport this morning,” FedEx said in a statement.
The Austin airport said it was “aware of the Federal Aviation Administration’s investigation into a flight crash landing.” We will assist our partners at the FAA and their investigation as needed.”
Authorities say the incident occurred in poor visibility conditions.