American Airlines and United Planes Involved in Close Call at New York LaGuardia

4 godzin temu

NEW YORK- American Airlines (AA) Flight AA4736 nearly took off from an occupied runway at LaGuardia Airport (LGA), while United Airlines flight UA2657 was still taxiing on the same runway.

The incident, which occurred early Tuesday morning, highlights systemic flaws in U.S. air traffic control procedures.

According to OMAAT, this near-miss underscores long-standing concerns about communication gaps and runway management practices at one of the nation’s busiest airports.

While both aircraft followed ATC instructions, the division of control between tower and ground frequencies created a dangerous situation.

LaGuardia Runway Incident

At approximately 12:30 AM on May 6, 2025, United Airlines flight UA2657 (Boeing 737-800) landed at LaGuardia Airport (LGA) from Houston Intercontinental Airport (IAH). It was instructed to taxi down Runway 13 and exit via a specific taxiway.

Meanwhile, American Eagle flight AA4736 (Embraer E175), operated by Republic Airways, was preparing for departure to Buffalo Niagara International Airport (BUF). The aircraft was cleared to line up and wait on Runway 13.

During the process, United missed its designated exit point on Runway 13. Ground control re-routed it to another taxiway while it was still on the active runway.

At that moment, the tower controller gave American Eagle takeoff clearance.

As American Eagle began its takeoff roll, the system issued an automated conflict alert. Simultaneously, a Spirit Airlines pilot was transmitting on the same frequency, blocking critical communication.

By the time the controller realized the danger and ordered American Eagle to abort takeoff, the aircraft had already reached over 100 knots.

Structural Issues in ATC

The most glaring flaw exposed by this incident is the US system’s division of runway control between two separate controllers, tower and ground, on different radio frequencies.

In most other countries, once an aircraft enters a runway, the tower maintains full control until it has completely exited.

This ensures continuous situational awareness and reduces miscommunication risks.

At LaGuardia, however, after United passed the initial exit, the tower handed control to ground while the plane was still on Runway 13. Tower then resumed managing departures without confirming United’s exact position.

This setup creates blind spots. When combined with high traffic density and overlapping radio transmissions, the risk of error increases significantly.

Communication Failures

The incident also highlighted how overlapping radio calls can prevent urgent messages from being heard.

As the controller attempted to cancel the takeoff clearance, a Spirit pilot was transmitting simultaneously, preventing American Eagle from receiving the warning immediately.

Automation detected the potential conflict, but human intervention came too late.

The controller admitted, “I thought United had cleared well before that,” revealing a reliance on assumption rather than confirmed radar data.

Controllers are highly trained professionals, but they operate within a system that demands perfect coordination across multiple frequencies and roles, an unrealistic expectation under pressure.

Urgent Need for ATC Reform

This event is not isolated. It reflects broader systemic challenges facing the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and its air traffic control protocols.

Ensuring that no controller ever manages active runway operations on a separate frequency from tower control should be a basic safety standard.

Technological upgrades, procedural changes, and better integration between tower and ground operations are essential to prevent future runway incursions.

It is also critical to review the communication systems and protocols to minimize overlapping transmissions and improve controller-pilot clarity during emergencies.

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