Passenger Renee Hoffer found herself in a frightening situation when the passenger jet she was on had to abruptly stop on the runway at New York’s LaGuardia Airport. The incident, which occurred on May 6, caused Hoffer and other passengers to be thrown forward in their seats, resulting in Hoffer experiencing neck pain and numbness in her left arm. Hoffer ended up in the emergency room the next day seeking medical attention for her injuries.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are currently investigating the incident, which involved a Republic Airways jet having to abort takeoff due to a United Airlines plane still on the runway. Despite LaGuardia Airport being equipped with an advanced surface radar system designed to prevent such incidents, the close call still occurred.
In audio obtained from the tower, the air traffic controller apologized to the pilot of the Republic Airways jet, admitting that they had thought the United plane had cleared the runway. It was revealed that at the time of the incident, a ground controller on a different radio frequency was directing the United plane to a new taxiway after it missed its initial exit.
After the passengers disembarked the plane, Hoffer shared that the gate agents refused to provide hotel vouchers for the night, attributing the delay to weather conditions. However, another passenger had evidence on her phone showing that another plane was indeed on the runway at the time of the incident.
Hoffer expressed her frustration with the lack of response from both the airline and the FAA regarding her complaints, as she continues to deal with the lingering effects of her injuries. The incident highlights the ongoing concerns surrounding close calls and runway incursions in the aviation industry.
LaGuardia Airport is among the few airports in the country equipped with the FAA’s advanced technology to prevent runway incursions. The ASDS-X system helps controllers track planes and vehicles on the ground, but the technology is not infallible, as evidenced by the recent incident.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has proposed a multi-billion-dollar plan to overhaul the nation’s air traffic control system, with hopes of expanding the advanced systems to more airports. Efforts are also underway to develop a system that can directly warn pilots about traffic on runways, potentially reducing the risk of collisions.
While the FAA is implementing additional measures to improve safety, the rate of runway incursions has remained relatively consistent over the years. The FAA is working on installing an additional warning system at LaGuardia to further enhance safety measures.
Despite advancements in technology, close calls and runway incursions continue to pose a risk to aviation safety. The FAA’s ongoing efforts to address these issues aim to enhance safety measures and prevent future incidents from occurring.
