Two planes that nearly collided in Sarasota, Florida, in February have both been cleared for their respective destinations, according to an investigation. The news comes as the Federal Aviation Agency grapples with a slew of air travel across the country.
Last month, an Air Canada Rogue plane took off from a runway at Sarasota Bradenton International Airport while an American Airlines flight landed on the same runway at the same time.
Following an investigation, the FAA and the National Air Traffic Controllers Association announced Thursday that they found both planes had missed each other by just 3,000 feet at their closest point, which made the AP points out is “much further apart” than other aircraft have been in similar situations lately.
RELATED: ‘Close Calls’ With Airplane Safety Are ‘On the Rise,’ Says National Transportation Safety Board Chair
The American Airlines flight coming in from Charlotte, North Carolina was cleared for landing at one time it was about 10 miles from the airport, but when it came in 3 miles away, the Air Canada flight to Toronto was cleared to take off.
There were no injuries on either plane.
The American airlines pilot left the landing after watching the plane take off via a “self-initiated restart.”
The investigation confirmed that an air traffic controller had also cleared the Air Canada plane for takeoff. The air traffic controllers who may have been involved that day are still under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board.
The American Airlines crew initiated a go-around themselves. No injuries or damage reported. A preliminary report is expected in 2-3 weeks.
— NTSB Newsroom (@NTSB_Newsroom) March 7, 2023
The event follows a blood-curdling close call at Boston’s Logan Airport late last month when a flight of a JetBlue plane, originating from Nashville, Tennessee, was descending to land but had to swerve quickly after a Learjet plane began taking off (without permission from the air traffic) control).
Neither American Airlines nor Air Canada Rogue has publicly commented on Thursday’s findings.
