US federal agencies have launched an investigation over a near-collision between two aircraft carrying passengers at New York’s JFK International Airport, ABC News reported.
The incident happened on the night of 13 January between a Delta Air Lines aircraft and an American Airlines flight.
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Both the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the averted collision.
Delta Air Lines’ Boeing 737 flight carried 145 passengers and six crew members onboard, The Guardian reported.
The American Airlines Boeing 777 was carrying 137 passengers and 14 crew members, reported BBC.
The Delta Air Lines aircraft stopped 1,000ft from where the American Airlines plane ‘had crossed from the adjacent taxiway’, according to FAA.
NBC News quoted Delta flight passenger Brian Healy as saying: “It was like a split second of panic that resulted in this audible reaction on the plane. I felt the adrenaline and there was total quiet on the plane, and then there was relief when the plane came to a stop.”
Following the incident, the flights were postponed until the morning of 14 January.
Delta provided accommodation for passengers during the wait, according to the newspaper report.
ABC News quoted a Delta spokesperson as saying: “Delta will work with and assist aviation authorities on a full review of Flight 1943 on January 13, regarding a successful aborted take-off procedure at New York-JFK. We apologise to our customers for the inconvenience and delay of their travels.”
Meanwhile, American Airlines declined to comment and deferred all questions to the FAA.
