Terrifying moment air traffic controllers try to avoid a crash at Austin airport trends now
Newly-released audio details the harrowing moment a FedEx pilot desperately tried to avoid a crash at the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas.
The audio shows that the crew onboard a Southwest flight headed to Cancun, Mexico early Saturday morning had been aware that a FedEx cargo plane was approaching the runway when they got the OK to depart.
But the flight remained grounded on the runway as the Boeing 767 cargo plane started to land. Yet the FedEx crew managed to be professional as it tried to get the Southwest flight to 'abort' its takeoff.
The Southwest crew, though, refused to do so, and took off just 75 vertical feet from the oncoming cargo flight.
Fortunately, the crew reacted quickly and aborted their landing just in time to avoid what could have been a fatal crash. The National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration are now investigating the incident.
A FedEx cargo plane nearly crashed into a departing Southwest flight early Saturday morning at the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas
Air traffic control recordings released Saturday night shows that at around 6.47am, the tower cleared Southwest for takeoff — noting that the FedEx plane is just three miles behind them and was approaching the 18 Left runway.
'Copy the traffic,' the pilot responds.
Soon, the FedEx pilot could be heard asking if he is confirmed to land on runway 18 Left, which an air traffic controller tells him he is.
But when the Southwest flight remains on the runway, air traffic controllers asked if it was planning to depart.
'Rolling now,' the pilot responds.
At that point, Travel Weekly reports, the FedEx crew initiated a go-around and told the Southwest crew they should abort their takeoff.
'Southwest abort,' a male voice, presumably the FedEx pilot, could be heard telling the crew. 'FedEx is on the go.'
Instead, the Southwest crew just replies 'negative' and begins climbing into the air.
The Boeing 767 cargo plane then completed its go-around and landed shortly after without incident, Travel Weekly reports.
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