A JetBlue Embraer 190 and Learjet 60 almost crashed while the larger aircraft was coming into land and the other “began a take-off roll”.
The incident occurred at Boston International Airport on February 27, 2023, just before 7 o’clock in the evening, according to information provided by the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) (BOS).
The JetBlue pilot, who was flying from Nashville, was reportedly forced to take “evasive action” to avoid the Learjet, which was being operated by HopAJet as a charter flight, according to the FAA.
The Learjet 60’s pilot took off without permission on February 28, 2023, as JetBlue Flight 206 was getting ready to land on an intersecting runway, according to a statement from the aviation authority.
The FAA is investigating a “close call’ in Boston after a Learjet “took off without clearance” on RWY 9 as a JetBlue flight was landing on RWY 4R. Review of ADS-B data indicates the aircraft came within approximately 565 feet as the Learjet crossed RWY 4R. https://t.co/2yd2oneCM4 pic.twitter.com/PGI4icH5rn
— Flightradar24 (@flightradar24) February 28, 2023
Air traffic control instructed the Learjet pilot to “line up and wait” before takeoff, according to the statement.
“An air traffic controller instructed the pilot of the Learjet to line up and wait on Runway 9 while the JetBlue Embraer 190 landed on Runway 4-Right, which intersects Runway 9. The Learjet pilot read back the instructions clearly but began a take-off roll instead,” read the FAA statement.
The FAA will determine how closely the two planes came to colliding as part of its investigation.
The closest separation between the aircraft, according to air traffic tracking agency Flightradar24, was a little over 550 feet.
The Associated Press reported that JetBlue said in a statement: “On Monday, February 27, JetBlue flight 206 landed safely in Boston after our pilots were instructed to perform a go-around by air traffic controllers. Safety is JetBlue’s first priority and our crews are trained to react to situations like this.”
The FAA is currently looking into a number of recent close encounters, the most recent of which occurred at the Boston airport.
