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FAA changes Newark runway operations after near mid-air collision FAA changes Newark runway operations after near mid-air collision
(about 20 hours later)
A near mid-air collision between two passenger planes has prompted the Federal Aviation Administration to change how Newark Liberty airport in New Jersey uses a pair of intersecting runways.A near mid-air collision between two passenger planes has prompted the Federal Aviation Administration to change how Newark Liberty airport in New Jersey uses a pair of intersecting runways.
The two planes came within 400ft vertically and 150ft laterally of each other at 3pm on 24 April, when United Airlines flight 1243, a Boeing 737 arriving from San Francisco, passed over United Express flight 4100, an Embraer ERJ-145 plane departing for Memphis, Tennessee.The two planes came within 400ft vertically and 150ft laterally of each other at 3pm on 24 April, when United Airlines flight 1243, a Boeing 737 arriving from San Francisco, passed over United Express flight 4100, an Embraer ERJ-145 plane departing for Memphis, Tennessee.
A preliminary investigation by National Transportation Safety Board described one of the pilots involved in the incident as describing the encounter as "real close". A preliminary investigation by National Transportation Safety Board described one of the pilots involved in the incident as saying the encounter was "real close".
The report shows that when the Memphis flight was cleared for takeoff, the incoming Boeing 737 was three miles away. But by the time the Embraer began its takeoff roll on runway 4R, the San Francisco flight was only a mile from landing on intersecting runway 29.The report shows that when the Memphis flight was cleared for takeoff, the incoming Boeing 737 was three miles away. But by the time the Embraer began its takeoff roll on runway 4R, the San Francisco flight was only a mile from landing on intersecting runway 29.
Realising that the planes were too close, the air traffic controller warned the pilots, instructing the 737 from San Francisco to "go around" – that is, to abort its landing – and for the Embraer to maintain visual contact with it.Realising that the planes were too close, the air traffic controller warned the pilots, instructing the 737 from San Francisco to "go around" – that is, to abort its landing – and for the Embraer to maintain visual contact with it.
About 10 seconds after the 737 was ordered to "go around", a pilot on the Embraer jet told air traffic controllers that the flight crew had "kept the nose down". The pilot said the 737 was "real close", according to an archive recording.About 10 seconds after the 737 was ordered to "go around", a pilot on the Embraer jet told air traffic controllers that the flight crew had "kept the nose down". The pilot said the 737 was "real close", according to an archive recording.
• Read the NTSB report• Listen to the recording from the Newark air traffic control tower• Read the NTSB report• Listen to the recording from the Newark air traffic control tower
The Boeing 737 passed over the ERJ-145 at the intersection of runways 29 and 4R, the NTSB report says.The Boeing 737 passed over the ERJ-145 at the intersection of runways 29 and 4R, the NTSB report says.
The report prompted the FAA to change how planes depart and arrive from the intersecting runways.The report prompted the FAA to change how planes depart and arrive from the intersecting runways.
"The FAA has investigated the recent air traffic incident at Newark and has taken steps to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future. The FAA has stopped using Runway 29 at Newark-Liberty International Airport for arrivals when flights are departing on Runway 4R," said FAA spokesperson Arlene Salac in an email."The FAA has investigated the recent air traffic incident at Newark and has taken steps to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future. The FAA has stopped using Runway 29 at Newark-Liberty International Airport for arrivals when flights are departing on Runway 4R," said FAA spokesperson Arlene Salac in an email.
The NTSB's preliminary report does not say whether the 737 executed the order to go around, and it's unclear why the Embraer did not take off immediately after being cleared to do so.The NTSB's preliminary report does not say whether the 737 executed the order to go around, and it's unclear why the Embraer did not take off immediately after being cleared to do so.
But a former air traffic controller and aeronautics professor contacted by the Guardian, who listened to a recording of communications between air traffic control and the pilots, said it was clear the Boeing 737 executed the go-around.But a former air traffic controller and aeronautics professor contacted by the Guardian, who listened to a recording of communications between air traffic control and the pilots, said it was clear the Boeing 737 executed the go-around.
"It was professionals acting in a professional capacity," said Robert Priestly, assistant professor of aeronautics at Kent State University in Ohio. However, he said there were some "clues" about the operation, "that would indicate that the spacing was pretty close"."It was professionals acting in a professional capacity," said Robert Priestly, assistant professor of aeronautics at Kent State University in Ohio. However, he said there were some "clues" about the operation, "that would indicate that the spacing was pretty close".
"You have a pretty good look at what's happening on the ground, and I'm thinking this United crew knew this [Embraer] was cleared for takeoff on the right," said Priestly."You have a pretty good look at what's happening on the ground, and I'm thinking this United crew knew this [Embraer] was cleared for takeoff on the right," said Priestly.
Both United Airlines and ExpressJet spokespersons said they were working with the NTSB to review the incident, but declined to answer specific questions.Both United Airlines and ExpressJet spokespersons said they were working with the NTSB to review the incident, but declined to answer specific questions.
The Boeing 737 from San Francisco was carrying 160 passengers and six crew members, according to a United Airlines spokesperson. The ERJ-145 to Memphis was carrying 50 passengers and three crew members.The Boeing 737 from San Francisco was carrying 160 passengers and six crew members, according to a United Airlines spokesperson. The ERJ-145 to Memphis was carrying 50 passengers and three crew members.