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TERROR IN TEXAS: FedEx, Southwest planes narrowly avoid collision after ATC mishap at Austin airport

The two planes came close to colliding when the FedEx plane was forced to overfly the Southwest plane to avoid a crash

AUSTIN, TEXAS: A FedEx cargo plane was scheduled to land at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas on Saturday morning, February 4, but had to change course after another plane was cleared to take off from the same runway.

According to the Federal Aviation Administration, the Boeing 767 was several miles from the airport when it was cleared to land at about 6.40 am local time. Moments before the expected landing, an air traffic controller reportedly cleared a Southwest Airlines flight to take off. "The pilot of the FedEx airplane discontinued the landing and initiated a climb out," the FAA said in a statement.

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'Possible runway incursion and overflight'

Data from the flight tracking website FlightAware showed how the plane had descended to an altitude of just 150 feet above ground at 6.40 am when it was forced to ascend again. The plane eventually landed at the airport about 11 minutes later. The National Transportation Safety Board described the incident as a "possible runway incursion and overflight involving airplanes from Southwest Airlines and FedEx." 

The FAA said the Southwest airplane was able to depart safely. Both FAA and NTSB are investigating the incident. "FedEx Express Flight 1432 from Memphis, Tenn. to Austin, Texas safely landed after encountering an event just before landing at Austin Bergstrom International Airport this morning," FedEx spokesperson Shannon Davis said in a statement. Both FedEx and Southwest referred further questions to the investigating bodies.

Austin-Bergstrom International airport told the Associated Press in a statement that it was "aware of the Federal Aviation Administration's investigation into the discontinued landing of a flight. We will assist our FAA partners and their investigation as necessary." Austin-Bergstrom is 5 miles southeast of Austin, CBS News reported.

'Cancel takeoff clearance!'

A similar situation took place last month at New York City’s JFK airport when one plane crossed onto the runway while another was about to depart. An American Airlines jetliner reportedly crossed onto the runway from a taxiway when a Delta Air Lines plane was about to take off. The Delta pilot sprang into action and slammed on the brakes to avoid a potential tragedy. The aircraft was carrying over 150 people when it halted just 1,000 feet away from the American Airlines plane. The FAA revealed in a statement that air traffic controllers quickly "noticed another aircraft crossing the runway in front of the departing jetliner. According to a preliminary analysis, Delta Air Lines Flight 1943 stopped its takeoff roll approximately 1,000 feet before reaching the point where American Airlines Flight 106, a Boeing 777, had crossed from an adjacent taxiway."

Audio recordings detailed how the air traffic controller's swift action prevented the planes from a major collision on the night of January 13. "S**t!" the controller was heard saying in audio footage from the tower of John F Kennedy International Airport. "Delta 1943 cancel takeoff clearance!" Delta later revealed the flight returned to the gate and couldn't depart immediately due to staffing issues. The flight ultimately left the next morning and customers were provided a hotel stay, CNN reported.