Close Call on Austin Runway Leads to D.C. Hearing

A thick fog causing major visibility and communications issues almost led to a catastrophe in Austin, Texas last year.

The crisis was averted thanks to the quick thinking of the FedEx co-pilot, who had to fly over a Southwest jet carrying 128 passengers after both planes were cleared to use the same runway.

This was one of several close calls from 2023 that prompted the Federal Aviation Administration to organize a “safety summit” for the industry and a meeting Thursday with the National Transportation Safety Board.

Investigators determined that the flight crews were qualified and not fatigued during the incident, but they recommended several changes.

These recommendations include airport surface detection equipment for controllers to track aircraft and vehicles, formal training for controllers on low-visibility weather conditions like fog, 25-hour cockpit recorders, and improved communications between pilots and controllers.

“If everything is normal, standard operating procedures work great. But, as we saw with limited visibility, things can fall apart quickly — aircraft taxi slower and must be more precise in their positions on the taxiway and runway. Good communication with the controller is essential,” said Warren Abrams, investigator and former airline captain, at the hearing.

FAA officials have stated that U.S. aviation “has never been safer,” but other experts believe the safety margin is decreasing and needs to improve with better staffing and technology.

According to the FAA’s numbers, there were 23 critically categorized runway incursions in 2023, compared to 16 in 2022, and 7 so far this year.

A recent close call occurred last month at Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C. — just weeks after another incident in the same airport.

In a few weeks, the NTSB plans to release its report on the Austin incident.