The recent incident is part of a concerning trend of increased “runway incursions” at airports throughout the United States in recent years. According to data from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for fiscal year 2024, there were a total of 1,757 such incidents reported. These incidents varied in severity, ranging from more serious situations narrowly avoided to minor occurrences, such as a vehicle inadvertently entering a protected surface area.
In response to this uptick in runway incursions, the FAA has taken proactive measures, including enhancing air traffic controller training and convening a special summit to address the issue of close calls and air traffic controller fatigue.
Following the latest incident near Phoenix, Delta Airlines disclosed that their aircraft are equipped with advanced technology designed to alert flight crews of potential conflicts with other aircraft. A spokesperson for Delta emphasized the airline’s commitment to safety, stating that Delta flight crews undergo rigorous training to effectively manage unexpected scenarios and promptly follow all resolution advisories.
CNN sought comments from United Airlines regarding the incident but has not yet received a response.
One of the recent close calls cited in the FAA data was a near-collision at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas in 2023. The incident involved a FedEx Boeing 767 and a Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 coming within a dangerously close proximity of 150 feet. An investigation conducted by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) determined that the near-miss was attributed to a faulty assessment of heavy fog by the air traffic controller on duty.
Another notable near-collision occurred at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York in 2023, involving two planes. The NTSB investigation revealed that the pilots of the aircraft were repeatedly distracted while in the cockpit, leading to a situation where the planes narrowly avoided colliding.
This article has been updated with additional information. For the latest news from CNN and to subscribe to newsletters, please visit CNN.com.
