According to reports from the National Transportation Safety Board, two aircraft nearly collided on runway 18L at Austin-Bergstrom Airport in the United States.
The ongoing investigation has revealed that a coordination error allegedly allowed a Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-700 to receive takeoff clearance while a FedEx Boeing 767-300F was on final approach to the same active runway.
The 767 crew aborted the landing and performed a go-around, avoiding a hazardous situation. Flightradar24 reports that the aircraft minimum altitude was 75 feet (22 meters) above the runway when it executed the go-around. Horizontal separation remains unknown at the time.
NTSB investigation at Austin:
FedEx 767 flight 1432 cleared to land on runway 18L. “Shortly before the FedEx aircraft was due to land, the controller cleared Southwest Flight 708 to depart from the same runway,” FAA says.
FedEx aircraft got to 141 feet above runway per Fr24. pic.twitter.com/pnANMvqwjs
— Will Horton (@winglets747) February 5, 2023
Flight WN708 continued to its scheduled destination in Cancun, Mexico and landed just over two hours after the incident. The FedEx Boeing 767, operating as flight FX1432, landed in Austin at 1:08 p.m. local time.
The NTSB confirmed via social media that it is investigating the incident.
The NTSB is investigating a surface event at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport Saturday, a possible runway incursion and overflight involving airplanes from Southwest Airlines and FedEx.
— NTSB Newsroom (@NTSB_Newsroom) February 4, 2023
This is a developing story.
