Incident of Close Call at Mexico City International Airport, Reported by Delta
A dangerous situation unfolded at Mexico City International Airport (AICM) on Monday, as a Delta Airlines Boeing 737-800 (Flight 590) preparing for takeoff to Atlanta and an Aeromexico Embraer E190 (Flight 1631) on final approach came perilously close to colliding on the same runway.
The Delta flight crew observed the Aeromexico plane landing directly ahead, and swiftly aborted the takeoff, returning safely to the gate. Fortunately, no injuries were reported in the near-miss incident.
The incident has been attributed to an "error" in the air traffic control tower, according to an airport source cited by Mexican press. The airport authorities and Mexican authorities have not officially acknowledged the incident, and it remains unclear if U.S. regulators are investigating.
This near-miss is seen as more serious than a similar incident in 2022, which involved two Volaris flights nearly colliding at AICM, leading to the resignation of Mexico's Air Navigation Services (SENEAM) director. The context suggests ongoing concerns about air traffic control management and safety oversight at Mexico City's control towers.
El Financiero reported that the incident on Monday "points to, preliminarily, an overload of work in control towers and the lack of personnel with necessary training." The U.S. actions are a response to a 2023 Mexican government decree that suspended cargo airline operations at AICM, effectively forcing such airlines to use AIFA.
In May 2022, before the two near-misses at AICM that month, the International Federation of Air Line Pilots' Associations raised concerns about an alleged lack of training and support for Mexico City air traffic controllers. In a letter sent to federal Infrastructure, Communications and Transport Minister Jesús Antonio Esteva Medina last December, air traffic controllers warned of the potential consequences of the failure to address a shortfall of adequately trained personnel at Mexican airports.
Mexico City International Airport authorities declined to comment on the incident when consulted by El Financiero. Delta Airlines has stated it will fully cooperate with authorities and praised the flight crew for their quick response, emphasizing their priority on safety. There is no public official statement yet about changes in air traffic control procedures or staffing following this near miss.
The incident involving an Aeromexico Connect flight from Aguascalientes and a Delta Air Lines Boeing 737 plane occurred just two days after the U.S. government announced new restrictions on flights from Mexico and threatened to end a longstanding partnership between Delta and Aeroméxico.
The aviation news website Air Live reported that both aircraft were simultaneously occupying a critical portion of the runway, creating a dangerous situation with the potential for a high-speed collision. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of robust air traffic control systems and the need for continued vigilance in ensuring the safety of air travel.
The aviation industry and financial sector are closely monitoring the ongoing situation at Mexico City International Airport (AICM), following a near-collision incident between a Delta Airlines Boeing 737-800 and an Aeromexico Embraer E190. Reports suggest that the incident may be a result of overworked control towers and insufficient training among air traffic controllers. This recent event comes after concerns about air traffic control management and safety oversight at AICM were raised by the International Federation of Air Line Pilots' Associations and Mexican air traffic controllers. As authorities investigate the near-miss incident, questions arise about the future of air traffic control procedures and staffing at AICM. The potential impact of the incident on the aviation industry, as well as the international partnerships between airlines such as Delta and Aeroméxico, remains to be seen.
