An American Airlines pilot was forced to abandon takeoff at 110 mph to avoid a potential collision with a private aircraft. The incident on the runway of Reagan National Airport took place on Wednesday, according to reports.
An air traffic controller was heard cancelling take-off clearance for AA flight 2134 saying the private jet was coming into land at an intersecting runway at 10.21am EST.
The commercial liner involved was an Airbus A319 carrying over 100 passengers.
It was bound for Boston and had been cleared to depart on Runway 1, reaching a speed of 80 knots, around 110 miles per hour, before it was called off.
The King plane had been cleared to land at Runway 33. According to the outlet the controller was heard saying, “American 2134 cancel takeoff clearance… zero alpha alpha go around, go around.”
The American Airlines plane confirmed that he was aborting takeoff before The King pilot warned: “Zero alpha alpha, cannot go around, we are already on the ground.”
The controller then asks the American flight if they want to go back to the gate, and the pilot confirms that they have to talk to the maintenance team. I think we were above 80 knots so we’re going to have to get an inspection,” they said.
Aviation expert Tom Kinton the pilot of the American flight was “almost at the point of no return,” according to the outlet.
He added that at their closest point, the two planes were 1,300 feet apart, a distance that “closes real quick if that American was continuing down the runway at that speed”.
After the incident, AA flight 2134 returned to the gate where a routine inspection with carried out by maintenance crews. It then departed around 2.30pm and touched down safely at Logan Airport in Boston.
American Airlines has been approached for comment.
The Federal Aviation Agency confirmed that the incident occurred and said it would investigate.