A close call unfolded at San Francisco International Airport (SFO) earlier this month, leaving aviation safety officials on high alert. On May 13th, around 5:10 PM, a United Airlines Airbus A320 (Flight 1152) bound for Dallas-Fort Worth and a SkyWest Airlines CRJ-200 (Flight 5272) en route to Fresno-Yosemite nearly collided during takeoff. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the United flight deviated from its authorized path, veering directly into the flight path of the SkyWest aircraft.
Reports indicate the United jet made an unauthorized sharp left turn instead of the prescribed right turn. At their closest point, the planes were a mere 0.4 nautical miles apart horizontally and a concerning 280 feet apart vertically. This near-miss was narrowly avoided, highlighting a potentially catastrophic failure in air traffic control procedures.
The aviation website One Mile at a Time detailed the incident, emphasizing the dangerously close proximity of the two aircraft. The FAA is currently investigating the circumstances surrounding the near-collision, with initial reports suggesting a potential navigational error on the part of the United Airlines flight. United Airlines has confirmed that they are conducting their own internal review of the incident.
This incident underscores the critical importance of stringent adherence to air traffic control protocols and the need for continuous improvement in aviation safety systems. The FAA’s ongoing investigation will be crucial in determining the root cause of this near-miss and implementing necessary preventative measures to avoid similar incidents in the future. The investigation’s findings will likely be closely scrutinized by the industry and the public alike.
While both airlines and the FAA are cooperating in the investigation, the near-collision serves as a stark reminder of the ever-present risks in air travel and the constant vigilance required to maintain a high level of safety. Updates on the investigation’s progress are expected in the coming weeks.
