LAX Incursion: They Sure Looked A Lot Closer
Radar analysis shows planes were not so close during Sunday's runway incursion.
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401556 02: Darkness settles around the large LAX letters that welcome travelers to Los Angeles International Airport February 25, 2002, in Los Angeles, CA. Terror threats and suspicious packages at LAX have kept officals busy. A bomb squad investigated a tin of cookies left unattended tonight. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)
Radar analysis now shows two airliners involved in a runway incursion Sunday at Los Angeles International Airport were not 15 feet apart, but were actually 80 feet apart.
This, according to the Federal Aviation Administration which launched an investigation into the incident involving a Midwest Embraer E90 and a Northwest Boeing 757.
The finding disputes an earlier estimate by an air traffic controller who claimed the two jetliners were within 10 to 15 feet of colliding with each other.
FAA officials said the Midwest flight rolled past hold lines on the taxiway and stopped about 70 feet from where the Northwest jetliner was taking off. This happened on the airport’s south side.
