Airplanes avoid collision at Charlotte/Douglas

By: Hickory Record Staff | The Associated Press
Published: January 13, 2009

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Two airplanes avoided a collision at a North Carolina airport when a jetliner that was landing pulled up to avoid a plane on the runway, authorities said.

An America West Airlines Airbus A321 aborted its initial landing and circled for another try Sunday at Charlotte/Douglas International Airport.

FAA spokeswoman Kathleen Bergen in Atlanta said the procedure isn't uncommon. She said quick reaction by air traffic controllers and the pilots kept passengers out of danger.

Bergen also said the "go-round" procedure probably happens once or twice a day at the airport.

"It's a safety procedure," she said. "It ensures that no plane lands unless the runway is completely cleared."

In Sunday's incident, incoming flight 1522 was about a mile from the runway and 300 feet off the ground when it pulled up suddenly to circle. A controller had noticed that a departing flight, America West flight 1525, had moved too slowly onto the runway and ordered the maneuver.

The controller also sent the departing plane in the same direction as the incoming flight, but caught the mistake and sent the departing plane in a different direction and told it to climb to 9,000 feet.

"There was no danger, since the two planes were flying in different directions and they had visual separation," Bergen said.

Passenger Chris Gray-Garcia was aboard flight 1522 headed to Washington when the plane suddenly pulled up. He said a few seconds later the pilot explained that another plane was on the runway.

"It turned out fine, but I must say it was a little scary," he said.