On August 3, 2023, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) revealed the cause of a near-collision incident that occurred in February in Boston involving a JetBlue flight and a Hop-a-Jet
charter plane. According to the NTSB, the near-miss happened because the charter pilot failed to obtain a takeoff clearance.
The incident occurred when JetBlue Flight 206, which was in the process of landing from Nashville, had to perform a go-around due to Hop-a-Jet Flight 280 taking off without clearance on an intersecting runway.
The NTSB reported that the airport's surface detection equipment issued an alert, prompting the air traffic controller to instruct the JetBlue flight to perform the go-around. The JetBlue Embraer 190 was just 30 feet (9.1 meters) above the ground when it aborted the landing "close to the point where both runways intersected," according to the NTSB.
The NTSB's report stated that the Boston tower informed the Lear 60 charter pilot that the JetBlue flight had passed about 400 feet above them.
The 63-year-old charter pilot provided an explanation to the NTSB, stating that he had received instructions to wait, but he believed he was clear for takeoff in his mind. He also mentioned that the cold temperature in Boston might have affected him, as he was not feeling completely well and had a stuffed nose.
As of now, the pilot, charter company, and JetBlue have not issued any immediate responses to the NTSB's findings.
The NTSB is currently investigating six runway incursion events, including the JetBlue incident, that have occurred this year. NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy has emphasized the importance of investing in aviation safety technology like the system in use at Boston. At present, technology systems that detect aircraft and ground vehicles at airports to prevent runway incursions are only used at 43 U.S. airports. Homendy believes that these systems need to be upgraded, and additional technology should be implemented at all other commercial airports for enhanced aviation safety. Photo by Luciof, Wikimedia commons.