Something went wrong while a Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 was approaching New York’s La Guardia Airport. The plane came dangerously close to the control tower.
There was very bad weather in the area around La Guardia Airport in New York on March 23rd. Visibility was poor. Under such conditions it can sometimes happen that an aircraft has to take off. But there was apparently another reason for Southwest Airlines flight WN147.
As recordings of the conversations between the tower and the cockpit crew show, the aircraft was on a dangerous course. Not in the direction of another jet, but in the direction of the control tower, where the people sit who instruct the planes to take off and land.
Only 90 meters high
“Get started, get started!” you can hear the pilot’s voice sounding excited. The jet was not aligned with the runway and had to climb to 2,000 feet (600 meters). “Continue climbing and when you’re ready, tell me a reason why you weren’t on the approach path,” said the air traffic control employee shortly afterwards. “Yes, let me find out quickly,” is the answer from one of the pilots from the cockpit.
The Boeing 737 was apparently at an altitude of just 300 feet (around 90 meters) when the instruction was given. It had already taken off once before because wind shear had made a safe landing impossible, reports ABC. On the second attempt, the aircraft went off course. “He wouldn’t have landed on the runway,” the controller can finally be heard saying. The aircraft was east of course.
Detour to Baltimore
The flight was diverted to Baltimore, where the plane landed safely. After a short stopover, the plane flew back to New York. The airline cited turbulence and poor visibility as the reason for the diversion. The incident is being investigated. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board NTSB also do the same.
Last year there were repeated near misses in the USA because planes came too close to each other at airports or when arriving or departing. This also worried the NTSB. “This year alone, the NTSB has initiated investigations into seven incidents in which aircraft approached within several hundred meters,” said its chief Jennifer Homendy, according to ABC broadcaster at the end of 2023.
Security system overloaded
“Our security system is showing clear signs of overload that we cannot ignore,” said Homendy. She is particularly concerned about near collisions. The NTSB sees the biggest problems as the lack of air traffic controllers, too much overtime and fatigue among staff, as well as psychological problems among employees who are overworked.