A major aviation incident was narrowly avoided at San Francisco International Airport (SFO) when a United Airlines Boeing 777 was mistakenly instructed to cross an active runway where another aircraft was preparing for takeoff.
The alarming event, classified as a serious 'runway incursion', occurred on the evening of Friday, 7th June. According to preliminary reports from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), an air traffic controller cleared the United jet, flight UA-2161 bound for Paris-Charles de Gaulle (CDG), to cross Runway 28R. Simultaneously, a smaller SkyWest flight had been given authorisation to use that same runway for departure.
A Close Call on the Tarmac
The United Boeing 777-200, carrying 183 passengers and crew, had just pushed back from its gate when it received the erroneous instruction. As the wide-body jet began its crossing manoeuvre, the crew of the SkyWest Embraer E175, which was lined up and ready for takeoff, was forced to abort its launch.
The FAA confirmed it is now conducting a full investigation into the miscommunication, stating it will "work with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) to determine the facts of what happened." Such incidents are treated with the utmost seriousness by aviation authorities worldwide.
Passenger Safety and Industry Scrutiny
Thankfully, the quick reactions of the flight crews prevented a catastrophe. Neither aircraft sustained damage, and there were no reported injuries among passengers or crew on either flight.
This event at a major international hub like SFO raises fresh questions about air traffic control protocols and staffing. It follows a string of similar near-miss incidents at US airports that have prompted increased scrutiny from regulators and safety advocates.
United Airlines stated that its crew "followed all air traffic control instructions and safely proceeded to the runway" before the flight continued its journey to Paris without further incident, arriving safely.
