Safety
NTSB Preliminary Report Outlines Runway Incursion Near-miss
The NTSB subpoenaed two pilots involved in a runway incursion at JFK International Airport after they declined a request for a recorded interview.
JFK Airport runway incursion image
This image from the NTSB preliminary report shows the path the American Airlines 777 was supposed to take (dashed lines) to Runway 4L along Taxiway K and the actual path of the airplane crossing 4L, the active runway, without clearance. (Image: NTSB)

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has released a preliminary report on a January 13 runway incursion at JFK International Airport. The incident involved an American Airlines 777-200 (Flight 106) that was taxiing and a Delta Air Lines 737-900ER (Flight 1453) that had been cleared for takeoff on Runway 4L.

In the NTSB’s February 10 report, investigators provided a straightforward analysis of the taxi instructions that were provided to American Flight 106: “AA 106 was instructed to taxi from the ramp to Runway 4L via taxiway B and hold short of taxiway K. As the aircraft left the ramp, the ground controller cleared AA 106 to cross Runway 31L at Taxiway K. Upon reaching the Taxiway B/Taxiway K intersection, AA 106 continued straight to taxiway J crossing runway 4L without ATC clearance.”