Near-Miss at LaGuardia: Republic Airways Aborts Takeoff to Avert Collision

Near-Miss at LaGuardia: Republic Airways Aborts Takeoff

A potentially dangerous situation unfolded at LaGuardia Airport on May 6th when a Republic Airways flight had to abort its takeoff to avoid a collision. The incident, attributed to a miscommunication between air traffic controllers, highlights ongoing concerns about runway safety.

Details of the Incident

American Eagle flight AA4736, operated by Republic Airways, was cleared for takeoff while a United Airlines flight, UA2657, was still on the same runway. According to Flight Radar 24 data, the two aircraft came within 0.27 miles of each other before the Republic Airways flight successfully decelerated.

"Brickyard 4736 sorry about that, I thought United had cleared well before that," the controller stated.

Investigation and Response

Both the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have launched investigations into the incident.

LaGuardia Airport is equipped with ASDS-X, an advanced FAA radar system designed to prevent runway incidents. Despite this technology, runway incursions remain a concern.

Infrastructure Modernization

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy is advocating for a multibillion-dollar modernization plan for air traffic control infrastructure, citing the current system's reliance on outdated technology.

LaGuardia is planning to implement additional safety measures to prevent similar near-collision incidents from recurring.