Close Call at San Diego Airport: Radio Mishap and Distraction Blamed
In a recent incident at San Diego International Airport on June 10, a Southwest Airlines jet and a SkyWest plane narrowly avoided a potential collision. An investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has revealed that a combination of a failed radio transmission and a distracted air traffic controller were the key factors behind this close call.
Both aircraft had been authorized to use the same runway. The NTSB’s findings suggest that the air traffic controller initially instructed the SkyWest plane’s crew to exit the runway. Simultaneously, the controller directed the Southwest Airlines pilots to truncate their landing approach and circle around the airport as a precaution.
However, a critical issue emerged when the radio call to the Southwest plane failed to connect. This hiccup likely occurred because both the controller and the pilots were speaking simultaneously, causing their transmissions to interfere with each other, as per the NTSB’s assessment.
Shortly after, audio recorded by LiveATC captured a moment of concern in the cockpit of the Southwest plane, as one of the pilots questioned, “Ah, is that an airplane on the runway?” The SkyWest crew overheard this comment while they were in the process of vacating the runway.
In response, the Southwest pilots claimed that they had heard the controller instruct them not to fly directly over the SkyWest plane but to maintain an “off-set” course.
According to the NTSB’s final report, the close call transpired when the radio communication was obstructed, with the controller concurrently preoccupied with coordinating with a helicopter navigating the same airspace. The Southwest plane managed to land safely but veered approximately 950 feet to the side and ascended 200 feet above the SkyWest plane during its descent.
Federal authorities are continuing to investigate another incident that occurred in San Diego in August, involving a close encounter between a Southwest plane and a business jet.
In summary, a combination of a disrupted radio call and controller distraction came close to causing a collision at San Diego International Airport, serving as a stark reminder of the critical importance of effective communication and vigilance in aviation operations.