Draft:2023 John F. Kennedy Airport runway incident

2023 John F. Kennedy Airport near-miss
Delta Flight 1943 · American Flight 106

Runway 4L of JFK airport, the runway where Delta 1943 took off
Incident
Date	13 January 2023
Summary	Runway incursion
Site	John F. Kennedy International Airport, Queens, New York State, United States 40°37′55.8″N 73°46′40.0″W
Total fatalities	0
Total injuries	0
Total survivors	308
First aircraft
N754AN, the American Airlines plane involved in the incident
Type	Boeing 777-223
Operator	American Airlines
IATA flight No.	AA106
ICAO flight No.	AAL106
Call sign	AMERICAN 106
Registration	N754AN
Flight origin	John F. Kennedy International Airport New York City, United States
Destination	London Heathrow Airport London, United Kingdom
Occupants	149
Passengers	137
Crew	12
Fatalities	0
Survivors	149
Second aircraft
A Delta Airlines Boeing 737-900ER similar to that involved in the incident
Type	Boeing 737-900ER
Operator	Delta Airlines
IATA flight No.	DL1943
ICAO flight No.	DAL1943
Call sign	DELTA 1943
Registration	N914DU
Flight origin	John F. Kennedy International Airport New York City, United States
Destination	Las Americas International Airport Punta Caucedo, Dominican Republic
Occupants	151
Passengers	145
Crew	6
Fatalities	0
Injuries	0
Survivors	151

On January 13, 2023, Delta Airlines Flight 1943 and American Airlines Flight 106 were involved in a near-miss at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport.

At approximately 8:44 PM local time, the crew of American Airlines Flight 106 was instructed by air traffic control to taxi to Runway 4L for departure via Taxiways B and K. However, instead of following the clearance, the crew deviated from the assigned route, continuing along Taxiway B and turning onto Taxiway J. This brought the aircraft into conflict with Delta Flight 1943, which had already begun its takeoff roll on Runway 4L of 1,000 feet.

The situation was detected by the Airport Surface Detection Equipment, Model X system, which triggered an alert in the control tower. Acting immediately, the ATC controller canceled the Delta flight's takeoff clearance. The Delta pilots executed a high-speed rejected takeoff, halting their aircraft at a speed of approximately 105 knots, roughly 2,300 feet from the intersection with Taxiway J. Meanwhile, the American Airlines flight continued crossing the runway without incident.

No injuries or damages occurred to either aircraft. Delta Flight 1943 had 153 passengers and 6 crew members onboard, while American Flight 106 carried 137 passengers and 12 crew.

Background

Aircraft

American Airlines Flight 106 was a Boeing 777-223 aircraft, while Delta Flight 1943 was a Boeing 737-900ER aircraft. American Airlines Flight 106 was flying from John F. Kennedy Airport en route to London Heathrow, while Delta Flight 1943 was flying from JFK en route to Las Americas Int'l.

Pre-incursion

The near-miss at John F. Kennedy International Airport on January 13, 2023 occurred during the early stages of flight operations, involving American Airlines Flight 106 and Delta Air Lines Flight 1943 (DL1943). The situation began as the two aircraft were preparing for departure from JFK, AAL106 bound for London Heathrow and DAL1943 for Santo Domingo.

Before the incident occurred, Delta Flight 1943 had completed its taxiing procedures and was cleared for takeoff from Runway 4L. At the same time, American Airlines Flight 106, a Boeing 777, was also taxiing and preparing to proceed to its gate after landing. However, AA106's flight crew inadvertently began taxiing toward Runway 31L, crossing into an area where Delta Flight 1943 was preparing to depart. The incident occurred due to procedural errors, with the American Airlines crew failing to properly observe taxiway routing instructions and inadvertently crossing into an active runway designated for takeoff.

Incident

On January 13, 2023 at approximately 8:45 AM, at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), American Airlines Flight 106 (AA106) and Delta Air Lines Flight 1943 (DL1943) came dangerously close to colliding.

As American Airlines Flight 106 was taxiing incorrectly to runway 4L while being distracted by paperwork, it inadvertently crossed Runway 4L, which was active for takeoff. Meanwhile, Delta Flight 1943, a Boeing 737, was cleared for takeoff from Runway 4L.

While Delta Flight 1943 was accelerating for departure, air traffic controllers noticed the potential conflict between the two planes. The controllers immediately issued an aborted takeoff order to the Delta flight to prevent the planes from coming into contact.

Delta Flight 1943 came to a halt approximately 500 feet from the intersection of the active taxiway and runway. The American Airlines aircraft was only 1,400 feet away, presenting a severe collision risk. Both aircraft were stopped on the taxiways without any physical impact.

Following the near-miss, American Airlines Flight 106 was re-routed to avoid any further conflicts, and the Delta aircraft was cleared to continue its takeoff after the airspace had been secured.

ATC-plane communication

The following will be a script of both ATC and crew communication during the near-miss in sequential order, starting from AAL106's incorrect taxi to the next couple of seconds after Delta 1943's brakes fully stop the plane:

Script

JFK Ground: "American 106 heavy cross runway 31L at Kilo" American 106: "31L at Kilo, American 106 heavy"

JFK Tower: "Delta 1943, wind 350 18 gusts 24, runway 4L, cleared for takeoff" Delta 1943: "Cleared for takeoff runway 4L, Delta 1943"

Approximately 20 seconds later, the JFK ATC notices Delta 1943 taking off while American 106 is taxiing

JFK Tower: "Shit! Delta 1943 cancel takeoff clearance. Delta 1943 cancel takeoff clearance" Delta 1943: "Rejecting."

JFK Tower: "American 106 heavy, American 106 heavy hold position. American 106 heavy hold position."

Delta 1943: "All right and uhh...phew! Delta 1943."

Investigation

Following the near-miss between American Airlines Flight 106 (AA106) and Delta Air Lines Flight 1943 (DL1943) on January 13, 2023, the National Transportation Safety Board initiated an investigation into the incident. The primary objective was to determine the causes of the near-miss, review the actions of both flight crews and air traffic control, and identify any procedural gaps or safety issues that could prevent future occurrences.

Initial Findings

According to initial reports, the American Airlines flight crew mistakenly crossed into Runway 31L, which was active at the time for takeoffs, after receiving taxi clearance. The Delta flight crew, meanwhile, had already been cleared for takeoff from Runway 4L. The planes came dangerously close, with the Delta aircraft aborting its takeoff just 500 feet from the crossing point, where the two aircraft would have intersected. The 1,400 feet separation between the two planes at the closest point was considered alarmingly narrow, underscoring the severity of the situation.

Air traffic controllers at JFK were credited with acting promptly and effectively to prevent the collision. Upon noticing the potential conflict between the two flights, controllers immediately issued the abort command to Delta Flight 1943, averting disaster.

Focus Areas

The investigation focused on whether the American Airlines flight crew had followed proper taxiway routing procedures or whether there were miscommunications or errors in their navigation. Additionally, the roles of the Delta flight crew and their situational awareness were analyzed, especially in terms of their readiness to abort the takeoff when instructed by air traffic control.

Additionally, investigators examined the air traffic control decisions made by JFK controllers. The key question was whether there were any lapses in communication or procedural errors that contributed to the near-miss. The investigation included a review of ATC transcripts and radar data to confirm how quickly the controllers identified the conflict and how effectively they communicated with the crews. Airport Layout and Ground Procedures:

Another aspect of the investigation was whether the complex layout of JFK's taxiways and runways contributed to the incident. The airport’s high traffic volume and multiple intersecting routes posed challenges to ground navigation. The investigation looked at whether taxiway signs, markings, and air traffic management were sufficiently clear to prevent confusion between arriving and departing flights.

Potential Findings and Recommendations

While the final report from the NTSB was pending at the time of the investigation, early indications suggested that the near-miss was largely the result of taxiway misdirection by the American Airlines crew. The NTSB also hinted at possible recommendations related to improving airport ground signage, increasing the visibility of active runways, and enhancing pilot training on taxiway procedures. Additionally, improvements to ATC communication protocols might be suggested to ensure quicker identification of potential conflicts and a clearer system for aborting takeoff in such situations.

Aftermath

The aftermath of the near-miss incident at JFK Airport in January 2023 prompted multiple responses and changes aimed at preventing similar occurrences in the future. Following the investigation into the event, which included a thorough review of flight data, ATC communications, and the failure to conduct recorded interviews with American Airlines' crew members​, several key actions were taken.

Safety Reviews and Changes to Procedures

The NTSB, in collaboration with the FAA, began reevaluating air traffic control and operational procedures to identify areas for improvement in airport ground operations. This included reassessing the effectiveness of current surface surveillance systems and making recommendations for more comprehensive measures​.

Calls for Enhanced Cockpit Voice Recorders

One of the major takeaways from the investigation was the NTSB's recommendation to extend the recording duration of Cockpit Voice Recorders (CVRs) from two hours to 25 hours. This would allow for more complete data capture during incidents involving multiple flight crews, especially in complex situations where interview transcripts are crucial​.

Crew Cooperation and Union Responses

The incident also sparked discussions about the role of unions in aviation investigations. The refusal of the American Airlines pilots to participate in recorded interviews led to some public statements from the Allied Pilots Association. The APA raised concerns about the potential consequences of recorded interviews, arguing that they could discourage candidness and hinder future cooperation. The NTSB, however, emphasized the importance of recorded interviews to ensure accuracy and efficiency​.

Regulatory Considerations

As part of the aftermath, the FAA and NTSB considered revisiting rules regarding pilot and air traffic controller training, as well as the procedures for coordinating between different airlines and ATC during critical phases of ground operations.

These steps aimed not only to address the specific incident at JFK but also to enhance overall safety protocols in the aviation industry. The event underscored the need for improvements in coordination, technology, and regulatory standards to prevent future runway incursions and near-misses.

See Also

• The Tenerife airport disaster, the deadliest runway incursion ever recorded
• List of ground collisions
• The 2024 Malakal Airport collision, a recent ground collision in South Sudan
• The 2016 Halim Airport runway collision, another ground collision in Indonesia
• The 1993 John F. Kennedy Airport ground collision, a ground collision more than 29 years prior to the 2023 John F. Kennedy runway incursion
• The 1983 Anchorage runway collision, involving a Korean Air plane and a PA-31.