The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has initiated a high-priority investigation following a terrifyingly close call at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), where two aircraft were moments away from a catastrophic collision on the same runway.
The incident, which occurred on Saturday, involved an American Airlines Boeing 777 wide-body jet carrying 172 passengers and crew. The commercial flight, arriving from Shanghai, was on its final approach to land when air traffic controllers made a startling discovery: a single-engine Beechcraft King Air private jet had already been cleared to land on the very same runway.
In a heart-stopping moment, controllers urgently instructed the American Airlines pilots to abort their landing. The massive jet was forced to execute a dramatic 'go-around' manoeuvre, climbing steeply to avoid the smaller aircraft that was simultaneously descending towards the tarmac.
Investigators Scrutinise Air Traffic Control Instructions
Preliminary reports indicate the potentially disastrous situation arose from a miscommunication within the airport's control tower. The private jet, arriving from Gainesville, Texas, had reportedly been given clearance to land on Runway 18L.
Moments later, without ensuring the runway was clear, a different controller appears to have cleared the much larger American Airlines flight for its approach to the identical stretch of concrete.
"The FAA is investigating a runway incursion that occurred on Saturday afternoon at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport," confirmed an agency spokesperson. "An American Airlines Boeing 777 and a Beechcraft King Air both lined up to land on the same runway. The American Airlines jet executed a go-around and the landing sequences were safely separated."
American Airlines and DFW Respond to Near-Disaster
American Airlines, in a statement, acknowledged the incident: "American Airlines flight 127 executed a go-around as directed by air traffic control. The flight landed safely without incident approximately 25 minutes later."
Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, one of the world's busiest aviation hubs, deferred all comments on the operational matter to the FAA and the involved airlines. The airport's complex layout, with multiple intersecting runways, requires precise coordination from its control tower staff.
This serious incident adds to growing concerns about aviation safety in US airspace, following several high-profile near-misses in recent months. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has previously warned about increasing runway incursions, citing staffing shortages and operational complexity as contributing factors.
The FAA's investigation will thoroughly examine tower communications, radar data, and cockpit recordings to determine exactly how two aircraft were simultaneously cleared for the same runway. The findings could lead to revised procedures and additional safety measures at major airports nationwide.
