Two jets rolled at each other on takeoff in Chicago: officials

[Little Tich]

Source: Yahoo! News / Reuters

(Reuters) - Two passengers jets taking off at Chicago Midway Airport rolled toward each other on intersecting runways before air traffic controllers noticed the problem and prevented a possible collision, officials said on Wednesday.

The near-miss occurred on Tuesday night when a Southwest Airlines flight was cleared for takeoff on one runway and an air traffic controller noticed that a Delta Air Lines plane was rolling without proper clearance on another runway, the Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement.

The two runways intersect at right angles in the middle of the airfield. The air traffic controller told the Delta crew to come to an immediate stop, and the Southwest crew chose to put on the brakes as well, the FAA statement said.

The two planes each halted more than 2,000 feet (610 meters) from the runway intersection, according to the FAA. The incident is under investigation.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/two-jets-rolled-other-takeoff-chicago-officials-231717595--finance.html

[Camelback]

1. Let me be the 1st to say

Fuck Reagan for destroying PATCO!

[FailureToCommunicate]

2. I'll second that.

And Welcome to DU !

[Major Nikon]

3. Not sure what PATCO had to do with this

But don't forget, PATCO was one of only two unions to endorse Saint Ronnie.

[Camelback]

4. That's the point! NOTHING!

They don't exist anymore and these replacement scabs are going to get somebody killed.

[Major Nikon]

5. I think you are about 28 years late to the party

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Air_Traffic_Controllers_Association

Furthermore the controllers had nothing to do with it other than preventing the possible collision (for which they were commended by Southwest Airlines).

[ladjf]

6. All takeoff clearances should be sent digitally to the aircraft flight director and to main video .

console on the plane. That would avoid instances such as the one that occurred here.