NearbyDelta and Aeromexico aircraft narrowly avoid collision at Mexico City airport
At Mexico City's Benito Juarez International Airport, a near collision between an Aeromexico Embraer E190 and a Delta Air Lines Boeing 737-800 has raised concerns about air traffic control (ATC) communication.
According to reports, the incident occurred when the Delta jet, Flight 590, was preparing for takeoff with 144 passengers on board. As the plane gathered speed, the crew noticed the Aeromexico plane, Flight 1631, landing on the same runway in front of them. The Delta pilots quickly aborted takeoff, narrowly avoiding a collision as the Aeromexico plane flew just less than 200 feet over the Delta plane.
Both airlines have confirmed their cooperation with authorities in the ongoing investigation. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Mexican civil aviation authorities are involved in the probe. While the exact cause remains under investigation, aviation experts are considering a potential communication failure as a possible cause.
Steve Ganyard, an ABC News aviation contributor and former fighter pilot, suggests that there may have been a failure to communicate clear instructions to either the takeoff or landing aircraft, or about which runway to use. It is unclear if air traffic control instructed the Aeromexico aircraft to land on the wrong runway where the Delta jet was.
The Delta jet returned to its gate before finally departing to its destination later that morning. Aeromexico and Delta have emphasised the importance of the safety of their customers and crew. The Mexican Aviation Authority did not immediately respond to ABC News' request for a comment.
It is worth noting that the incident did not result in any reported injuries or accidents. The Delta jet reached a speed of approximately 60 miles per hour before it stopped.
As the investigation continues, it is hoped that the findings will provide clarity and help prevent similar incidents in the future. For those interested in breaking news alerts, the Breaking news alerts Newsletter is available for subscription.
- In light of the incident, industry experts wonder if there was a breakdown in communication between the air traffic control (ATC) and the planes in both the finance-backed aviation industry and the transportation sector.
- The potential communication failure in Mexico City's Benito Juarez International Airport has raised concerns among financial backers, questioning the reliability of air traffic control management in the finance, transportation, and aviation sectors.
