Two Planes Nearly Collide in Near-Miss at Edward Dutton Airport
Disaster nearly struck Harrisbourg’s Edward Dutton International Airport Tuesday after an airliner mistakenly tried to land on the same runway where another packed plane was attempting to take off.
Blue Air Airlines Flight 4071 to Petersbourg State Airport was preparing for takeoff and rolling down Runway 11 when pilots spotted Turkish Airlines Flight 780 attempting to land in the same place. The Turkish plane was meant to land on Runway 11 Left.
Air traffic controllers quickly sprang into action in order to prevent an impending collision.“
Tornado 4071 (the callsign for the Blue Air flight) cancel take off plans,” an air traffic controller said over the radio, according to TBC. “Tornado cancel take off plans.”
The flight crew received the message and promptly halted the Yahbis 190’s takeoff, instead taxiing off the runway while air traffic controllers issued orders to the Turkish Airlines flight, an Airbus A320 that was arriving from Istanbul.
“You're lined up on the wrong runway,” another air traffic controller told the Turkish Airlines flight. “Turkish 780 go around, turn left heading 100.”
The plane managed to go around and land safely on the correct runway. No injuries were reported.
Turkish Airlines released a statement Tuesday addressing the incident.
"The safety of our passengers and crew is our highest priority, and in accordance with our procedures Turkish Airlines will conduct an investigation to determine the factors that led to this event," the statement read
