New York, USA – A potentially disastrous situation was narrowly averted at JFK Airport in New York City when a Swiss Air jet nearly collided with four other planes on the runway due to a communication error. The incident occurred on April 17, prompting the Swiss Air flight bound for Zurich to abort its takeoff after realizing that multiple planes had been cleared to use the same runway at the same time.
Audio recordings from the airport’s air traffic control captured the tense moment when the Swiss Air pilot, identified as Swiss 17k heavy, alerted the control tower about the unexpected traffic on the runway. The quick thinking and situational awareness of the Swiss Air crew in aborting the takeoff were praised by the airline, as they managed to de-escalate what could have been a catastrophic event.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has launched an investigation into the incident at JFK Airport. However, the agency has not yet provided additional information in response to queries. This near-miss at JFK Airport came just a day before a similar incident at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, where two planes were also cleared for takeoff on the same runway simultaneously, causing a brief moment of panic before the mistake was rectified by air traffic controllers.
The incidents at both JFK and Reagan National serve as critical reminders of the importance of precise communication and coordination in air traffic control to ensure the safety of passengers and crew. The swift actions taken by the Swiss Air crew to avert a collision highlight the importance of rigorous training and adherence to protocols in high-pressure situations.
Safety remains a top priority in the aviation industry, with incidents like the one at JFK serving as valuable lessons to further enhance communication and coordination protocols. As investigations continue into the near-collisions at both airports, authorities and airlines will undoubtedly work to implement additional measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.