Runway safety has been a hot topic this year. In fact, year-to-date data shows an increase in the most serious type of runway incursions—Category A incidents, where a collision between two aircraft was narrowly avoided. Aviation safety organizations, including the NTSB and FAA, are concerned with the increase in the number of near collisions and many have feared the worst—an actual collision between two aircraft.
On October 24, these concerns were realized when two business jets collided at Houston Hobby Airport (KHOU). During this event, the crew of a Hawker 850XP on takeoff roll struck a Cessna Citation Mustang that was landing on a crossing runway. Alarmingly, the Hawker pilots did not follow ATC instructions to “line up and wait” (LUAW) and ignored two pleas by the local tower controller to abort the takeoff run before impact. Both aircraft were substantially damaged. Fortunately, none of the occupants were injured.
Pilot, safety expert, consultant, and aviation journalist Stuart “Kipp” Lau writes about flight safety and airmanship for AIN.
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