We’ve seen a concerning number of close calls at airports lately. In some cases they’re due to mistakes by pilots, while in other cases they’re due to mistakes by air traffic controllers.
This week we saw yet another error by an air traffic controller at Washington National Airport (DCA), as flagged by The Aviation Herald. This is the second major controller mistake we’ve seen at the airport in a month.
In this post:
Close call on runway at Washington National Airport
This incident happened on Wednesday, May 29, 2024. It involves two aircraft:
- A 24-year-old American Airlines Airbus A319 with the registration code N812AW; the flight was preparing to depart Washington National (DCA) for Boston (BOS)
- A 16-year-old Beechcraft Super King Air turboprop with the registration code N250AA; the flight was arriving at Washington National (DCA)
So, what happened here? The first thing to understand is that this incident involves two intersecting runways at the airport. Here’s how this unfolds, in chronological order:
- The King Air turboprop was cleared to land on runway 33
- The American A319 was cleared to line up and wait on runway 1
- Moments later, the American A319 was cleared for takeoff, while the King Air turboprop was on short final for the intersecting runway
- In a panic, the air traffic controller told the King Air turboprop to go around, but the pilots advised that they had already landed
- At this point, the American A319 also aborted its takeoff at a high speed
Thank goodness for the fast reactions of the pilots of both aircraft, or else this could have had a very different outcome. The American jet ended up returning to the gate, and the same aircraft flew around four hours later (a high speed rejected takeoff requires an inspection, and in many cases brakes also need to cool off).
Below you can watch an excellent VASAviation video with both the air traffic control audio, plus a recreation of the position of the aircraft. In particular, I can’t help but note the American pilot’s tone of voice at the 2min12sec mark. Hah.
The FAA released the following statement regarding this incident:
“An air traffic controller cancelled the takeoff clearance for American Airlines Flight 2134 because another aircraft was cleared to land on an intersecting runway at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. The event occurred around 10:30 am local time on Wednesday, May 29. The FAA will investigate.”
A few thoughts on this incident…
Kudos to the pilots for their quick response, because this could have had a very different outcome. We see close calls all the time, and one can’t help but wonder when we won’t be so lucky, and these situations won’t end with everyone walking away uninjured.
Sometimes when we see these kinds of close calls, it’s due to lack of communication between air traffic controllers. In this case, the same air traffic controller was giving all the instructions, which is even more concerning.
While this shouldn’t happen, I can also see the circumstances that lead to this. There was a lot going on, with both of the runways having planes taking off and landing simultaneously, with little room for error. Unfortunately for air traffic controllers, if they’re not on top of their game 100% of the time, it could have major consequences.
Bottom line
Two aircraft had a close call at Washington National Airport on Wednesday. The same air traffic controller cleared one aircraft to take off on one runway, and another aircraft to land on an intersecting runway. The mistake was only caught once the one aircraft had already touched down.
Fortunately a disaster was averted here, though it’s still troubling how often we’re seeing these situations. We saw a similar incident last month at the same airport, which was also the fault of an air traffic controller.
What do you make of this situation?
Well, now I know why my flight went into a pattern Wednesday when we thought we were about to land... It's getting pretty scary to be in and out of DCA weekly.
Didn't realize DCA had such a complicated setup. Wonder if the FAA adding more slots there is going to exacerbate the problem.
There are some real racists dog whistlers in these comments. I knew as soon as the Republicans started saying DEI is racist and a waste of tax payer dollars that the racists would start coming out of the wood work.
They hear a close call from a black man in the tower and jump to "He couldn't do it because he's black" disguised as ""What is it with these freaks and the "DEI!" "Diversity!" obsession?"...
There are some real racists dog whistlers in these comments. I knew as soon as the Republicans started saying DEI is racist and a waste of tax payer dollars that the racists would start coming out of the wood work.
They hear a close call from a black man in the tower and jump to "He couldn't do it because he's black" disguised as ""What is it with these freaks and the "DEI!" "Diversity!" obsession?" They just hate the thought of anyone who's not white doing anything that provides a paycheck. But remember, they're not racists or anything, no, not that.
No, it’s about hating anyone who has not obtained his position through being the most suitable person for that job in meritocratic system, but has gotten it due to arbitrary ideological quotas that put less/non-suited people into safety-relevant positions that they should not be in.
This is a result of poor pay for the industry. Fast food pay is going to get you fast food work.
Pilots are getting raises of up to 35% pretty much across the board. Other unions, too. Controllers... they get 1.6%.
A new trainee in the SF Bay Area will start at $60K. Training can take 1.5-4 years. Only the most desperate people would take that option.
Also, financial woes will cause personal problems, leading...
This is a result of poor pay for the industry. Fast food pay is going to get you fast food work.
Pilots are getting raises of up to 35% pretty much across the board. Other unions, too. Controllers... they get 1.6%.
A new trainee in the SF Bay Area will start at $60K. Training can take 1.5-4 years. Only the most desperate people would take that option.
Also, financial woes will cause personal problems, leading to more stress and fatigue and bleeding over into the job.
Even the most stable people start to break under enough pressure.
Hey, PATCO was the first union the GOP busted in the 1980s. Since then CEO pay is up over 3,000%. Worker pay is up 15%.
This is a result of covid vaccine mandates that led to a reduction in the numbers of experienced ATC's. Although I am not a fan of DEI and believe in meritocracy, one cannot make the assumption in this scenario. Unfortunately, until more experience is gained this will be a recurrent issue . Lets just hope we dont have any disastrous consequences
Only idiots believe any of this has to do with DEI.
The problem is and has always been humans.
Time to remove humans from the controls.
This diversity strength will be our downfall. As much as we like too, as human race we are really different. Some excel in academics, some in sports and some are not meant to these kind of multi tasking jobs that require knowledge and efficiency . Hire the best candidate for the jobs.
WTF does that have to do with this incident? Do you know who was in the tower? When they were hired? Their experience? You have the same info about the pilots? Just using any opportunity to rant about your politics, even when irrelevant and/or unknown to a particular situation?
Oh look, another MAGA incel leading a worthless life, with nothing better to do than rant about DEI
I am proud brown Latino and proud to say that we do take our pride in working those back breaking jobs that you guys don't want. We mow your lawn, paint your house, collect your shitty trash. We know what where good at. I am not even MAGA and that shows your ignorance.
The controller sounds like an emcee at a strip club - do they all talk in that smarmy-sounding voice?
Just say he sounds black and at least be transparent with your racism, I never understand why racists think they are cleverly disguising their true intentions when they are plain as day.
can't say this is a cause but a major air traffic controller shortage has been ongoing for awhile..
I'm now thoroughly convinced that when the USA's incredible run of safety (no mainline mass-fatality since November 2001) comes to an end.... it'll be due to a tragic runway collision.
These near-misses are happening way too frequently for it to not. :(
Diversity is our strength.
What is it with these freaks and the "DEI!" "Diversity!" obsession?
"What is it with these freaks and the "DEI!" "Diversity!" obsession?"
They just hate the thought of anyone who's not white doing anything that provides a paycheck. But remember, they're not racists or anything, no, not that.
has there been a deadly air traffic control disaster in this country caused by somebody who is black or female or foreigner. i think that they have all been white guys so what does diversity have to do with this
I don't agree with racism or prejudice, but factually I will point out that the US Air runway accident in LAX was caused by a female controller.
You're referring to an accident that happened in 1991?
Do European, British, or other air regulators allow the use of intersecting runways at the same time?
DCA has 25M passengers a year.
LGW has 32M passengers a year on one runway, although they extending a taxiway to have two.
ZRH comes to mind. They have intersecting runways as well. However, not sure if they are in use at the same time.
LGW has had two runways for decades, but they're too close to legally be used simultaneously, so when one is in use the other functions as a taxiway.
You're almost right. Legally speaking they have an "emergency runway" ( the taxiways which has been extended but hasn't been authorised for simultaneous operations). This runway is used as a taxiway when not an active runway but the main runway is never used as a taxiway when the emergency runway is active. Mainly due to the apron layout meaning it would be pointless to utilise it that way.
Imho LGW should've been the choice instead...
You're almost right. Legally speaking they have an "emergency runway" ( the taxiways which has been extended but hasn't been authorised for simultaneous operations). This runway is used as a taxiway when not an active runway but the main runway is never used as a taxiway when the emergency runway is active. Mainly due to the apron layout meaning it would be pointless to utilise it that way.
Imho LGW should've been the choice instead of the, stalled, LHR 4th runway. LGW's has been created at zero cost to the taxpayer and only isn't in play due to the airport being in a public consultation phase and not having CAA/ Gov permission. If that was to be granted today then in all practical and compliance ways LGW could be a 2 runway/ simultaneous operations in a week tops. About the only delaying factor could be ATC staffing
HNL (though I think only 1 of the diagonal runways crosses another?)? ORD (though they have been realigning, they still have 2 crosswind runways?)? MEL definitely has intersecting runways that are both used at the same time...anyways, good question!
We’ve seen a a number of issues due to the intersecting runways at DCA now. I’m curious how much it really helps with flow. Almost makes me think they should keep only runway 1 and simplify the rest in the sake of safety.
That does seem a bit obvious.
It even looks feasible to put a second runway parallel to the main one with only short parts over the river.
Sensible thing would be to do that now - likely thing is that is will only be done after an actual collision.
I've thought that too. You can't use the main runway when the short one is being used, so why not just make it one runway or two parallel runways instead?
The problem with DCA isn't as much the on the ground space available (which is tight as it is), it's everything around it. The Pentagon, White House, Capital are all in the flight paths. It's probably one of the most challenging in terms of sequencing in the US.