Federal officials are investigating why two planes got dangerously close on a runway at New York's LaGuardia Airport earlier this month despite the airport being equipped with an advanced surface radar system that's designed to help prevent such close calls.

When a passenger jet roaring down the runway toward takeoff at New York’s LaGuardia Airport had to slam on the brakes earlier this month because another plane was still on the runway, Renee Hoffer and all the other passengers were thrown forward in their seats.

Hoffer wound up in the emergency room the next day after the near miss on May 6 because her neck started hurting and her left arm went numb.

“The stop was as hard as any car accident I’ve been in,” Hoffer said.

  • mercano@lemmy.world
    26·
    10 days ago

    At the time that controller was directing the Republic Airways jet to takeoff, a ground controller on a different radio frequency was directing the United plane to a new taxiway after it missed the first one it was supposed to use to exit the runway.

    I thought one and only one controller was supposed to have custody of an active runway.

      • BigMikeInAustin@lemmy.worldEnglish
        6·
        10 days ago

        Airlines keep pushing to get more throughput on the runways; closing the time between planes.

        Not only does it cause chances of being in the wake of the previous plane, there is no time cushion if something happens.

    • NatakuNox@lemmy.world
      4·
      10 days ago

      Yes, but when your work place is understaffed, you are over worked, and you are working on software and systems from the early 80s… Mistakes happen ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

      Not like hundreds of people’s lives are at stake.