FAA investigating near miss at Reagan National Airport
The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating a near miss incident at Reagan National Airport on Thursday that involved a Southwest Airlines jet and a JetBlue Airways plane.
According to the FAA, the incident took place 7:41 a.m. An air traffic controller instructed Southwest Flight 2937 to cross Runway 4, while JetBlue Flight 1554 was starting its takeoff roll down the same runway, the agency said.
No serious injuries were reported.
In a statement, JetBlue said the aircraft was inspected before ultimately departing for Boston.
“Safety is JetBlue’s first priority, and we will work closely with federal officials as this event is fully investigated,” the airline said in a statement.
Southwest Airlines said it is aware of the incident and will work with the FAA to “fully understand the circumstances.”
The incident is one of several near misses that have raised concerns about aviation safety.
At a Senate hearing in November, safety experts urged the FAA to take aggressive action to prevent such incidents. A report by a panel of experts released days after that hearing also underscored the need for the FAA to address the shortage of air traffic controllers and invest in new technology that could prevent such mishaps. Earlier this month, the FAA announced that it would install runway safety technology at several airports, including Austin-Bergstrom International and Indianapolis International, as part of its effort to eliminate close calls.
Thursday’s incident is likely to add fuel to the debate over whether more flights should be added at National Airport.
“Today’s near crash at DCA is a horrifying example of why it’s crucial that we beat back efforts to undermine slot and perimeter rules for our capital region airports,” Virginia Democratic Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine said in a statement. “DCA’s overburdened runway is already the busiest in the country - and we fear that adding more flights could put passenger safety at serious jeopardy. ”
Kaine and Warner are among D.C. area lawmakers pushing back against a plan to add flights at National, which is included in the Senate version of the measure to fund the FAA.
However, a coalition led by Delta Air Lines is advocating for more service at National, saying it would lower ticket prices and make it easier for travelers to visit the nation’s capital. While a provision to add more flights is included in the Senate version of a measure to fund the FAA, the House version of the bill does not.