"The worst air traffic accident in history" narrowly avoided by Air Canada overflight

A near miss involving an Air Canada plane that would have almost landed on a congested lane instead of a landing strip at the San Francisco airport could have been the one. worst aviation accident in history, "according to an official report.

The Air Canada Airbus A320 aircraft, carrying 140 people, was cleared to land on Runway 28 at the San Francisco International Airport shortly before midnight on July 7, 2017. But inadvertently, the pilot was lined up on taxiway C where four planes were waiting.

"Only a few feet apart have prevented this from becoming the worst aviation accident in history," said Bruce Landsberg, vice president of the National Transportation Safety Board, in announcing the report of the US Air Safety Board. agency published Friday.

"The aircraft descended to an altitude of 30 meters above the ground and flew over the first plane on the taxiway," the report said.

"The incident flight crew initiated a go-around, and the aircraft reached a minimum altitude of approximately 60 ft and flew over the second aircraft on the taxiway before commencing taxiing". he adds. Air Canada aircraft were injured.

Earl Weener, member of the board of directors, said: "More than 1,000 people would be at imminent risk of serious injury or death."

According to the report, the misidentification of the taxiway by the flight crew as being the intended track "results from the lack of knowledge by the crew members of the closure of the parallel runway due to the # 39; ineffective examination of information notifying aviators (NOTAM) before the flight and during the briefing approach. "

"The failure of the flight crew to adjust the frequency of the instrument landing system for emergency side guidance, expectations, fatigue due to disruption of circadian rhythm and the duration of the day before continues, as well as failures in the management of the resources of the crew ".

An audio recording of radio traffic between Air Traffic Control and the pilot of Air Canada Flight 759 was posted shortly after the incident.

Moments after being cleared to land on the designated runway, the Air Canada pilot returned to the radio and found that something was wrong.

"Uh, Tower, I just want to confirm – it's about Air Canada 759 – we see lights on the runway, across the runway, can you confirm we're free to land?" ? "

The tower responded: "Air Canada 759 has confirmed that Runway 28-Right was allowed to land in. There is no one else on 28-Right than you."

"OK, Air Canada 759," replied the pilot.

The voice of an unidentified man then went off – presumably a pilot in one of the aircraft waiting to take off. "Where's this guy going?" He's on the road, "he says.

Air Traffic Control immediately told the Air Canada pilot not to land.

"Air Canada goes around," said the tower.

"At go-around, Air Canada 759," replied the pilot.

The pilot of a United Airlines plane on the ground told the tower that "Air Canada" was flying over us directly.

"Yes, I saw that guys," the tower replied.