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‘Southwest, ABORT. FedEx is on the go’: Heart-stopping audio reveals how FedEx and Southwest planes narrowly avoid collision

After FedEx flight returns for a safe landing, the controller tells the pilot, 'You have our apologies. We appreciate your professionalism'

AUSTIN, TEXAS: Shocking audio shows the pilot of a FedEx cargo plane urging the other plane to abort takeoff after the two flights almost collided last week in Texas. Southwest Flight 708 informed air traffic control that it was "ready" for departure short of the runway, as per audio by LiveATC.net, just seconds after FedEx Flight 1432 from Memphis was given the all-clear to land on Runway 18 Left at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport early on Saturday. 

"Fly heading 170, Runway 18 Left, cleared for takeoff. Flight 708, which was headed for Cancun, Mexico, is informed by the controller." "Traffic three miles final is a heavy 767," reported by New York Post. The word 'heavy' is used to describe aircraft that weigh more than a specific amount to warn pilots of wake turbulence. The pilot responds, acknowledging the takeoff clearance, "Copy the traffic." 

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'You are cleared to land'

Simultaneous approvals for landing and taking off are frequently provided for both arriving and leaving flights when there is enough space between two aircraft. The cargo pilot asked the tower, "Tower, confirm FedEx 1432 heavy cleared to land on 18 Left," ostensibly aware that the second aircraft was still on the runway. "That is affirmative. Runway 18 Left, you are cleared to land. Traffic departing prior to your arrival is a 737," the controller responded. After a while, he appears to notice that the Southwest airplane was moving slowly. "Southwest 708, confirm on a roll," he states. "Rolling now," the pilot replies.

'Southwest, abort. FedEx is on the go'

The FedEx pilot then appears to be heard saying, "Southwest, abort," according to the recording. FedEx is on the go." The speaker's identity could not be readily verified. The controller tells the Southwest pilot to "turn right when able," evidently believing that the takeoff was canceled. However, the pilot responds "negative" and continues to fly. It is assumed that the aircraft had passed the so-called V1 "commit to fly" speed and was unable to safely abort. The FedEx airliner "initiated a climb out," or go-around, after aborting its landing, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. "The pilot of the FedEx airplane discontinued the landing and initiated a climb out," the FAA stated. "The Southwest flight departed safely."

'Possible runway incursion and overflight'

According to Flight Radar data, the Southwest plane was 4 feet over the ground when the FedEx plane passed over it at an altitude of 75 feet, possibly bringing them within 71 feet of one another. "FedEx 1432, climb and maintain 3,000. When able, you can turn left heading 080," the controller states. "Southwest 708, you can turn left heading 170." The controller later apologized to the pilot after vectoring the FedEx airplane back to the airport for a secure landing. "We appreciate your professionalism," the controller said. The incident was labeled by the National Transportation Safety Board as a "possible runway incursion and overflight involving airplanes from FedEx and Southwest Airlines."