FAA investigates near-collision at Reagan Washington National Airport

Two planes narrowly avoided each other on the runway at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on Wednesday, according to an air traffic audio recording, the second such near miss at the airport in six weeks.

The Federal Aviation Administration said it would investigate how American Airlines Flight 2134 was allowed to take off around 10:20 a.m. Tuesday, when another plane had already been cleared to land on a cross runway.

“An air traffic controller canceled takeoff clearance for American Airlines Flight 2134 because another plane had been cleared to land on an intersecting runway at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport,” an official said Thursday morning. spokesperson.

American Airlines said in a statement: “The safety of our customers and team members is our top priority, and we are grateful to our crew for their professionalism. We will support the FAA in their investigation.”

Two planes nearly collided in a similar accident at the airport, located in suburban Washington, Virginia, on April 18.

The American Airlines flight was an Airbus A319 bound for Boston Logan International Airport, according to FlightAware.com, while the second, smaller plane was a private Hawker Beechcraft Super King Air.

According to audio captured by LiveATC.com, a flight controller says, “American 2134 cancels takeoff clearance,” before telling the other plane not to land and to circle the airport while waiting for authorization. “Zero Alpha Alpha, go around, go around!” said the controller.

The pilot of the second plane responds: “And Aero Alpha Alpha can't go around, we were already on the ground.”

The controller then asked AA2134 to leave the runway to be “resequenced” or to return to the gate.

But the pilot responds that because the plane was going so fast – more than 80 knots, or 92 mph – when the takeoff was canceled, it should be inspected.

“Um, we'll, we need to talk to maintenance, but yeah, I think, uh, we were above 80 knots, so [we’re] I’ll have to do an inspection,” he said.

A replay from the website adsbexchange.com, which tracks flight paths and records the positions of planes, shows the American Airlines plane beginning its takeoff while the other plane lands and is about to cross the runway.

Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., said the near-miss showed the airport was operating at capacity.

“I'm relieved that no one was hurt. But this incident once again highlights that DCA is at full capacity,” he said on X, before adding that the FAA should reject measures aimed at approve any new air routes that “compromise safety”.

The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority declined to comment.

The FAA held a safety summit last year to discuss the need to change how flights are regulated after a series of near-misses.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com