Recent reports of aviation accidents have left many travelers feeling uneasy. From medical jet crashes to midair collisions, and even incidents involving planes veering off runways, the frequency and severity of these events have raised concerns about the safety of air travel.
Here’s a breakdown of the incidents and factors contributing to the rise in aviation accidents.
The Washington, DC Midair Collision: Investigating the Causes
One of the most disturbing incidents recently occurred in Washington, DC, involving a midair collision between a helicopter and an American Airlines plane.
“The investigators now know that the helicopter was off course. It was not supposed to be in that area. It was flying about 175 feet higher than it should have been. But more importantly, it was not transponding, meaning giving off a signal to the controllers as to its exact direction, speed and height, which it should have been,” CBS News Travel Editor Peter Greenberg told KYW Newsradio.
“And then, of course, what was it doing in that area to begin with? All these things added to the fact that there weren't enough controllers on duty that night means the FAA has to do some serious restructuring,” Greenberg continued. “The American Airlines plane was doing what it was supposed to do, and it was where it was supposed to be.”
“This is all going to come down on air traffic control and the military,” he added.
The Arizona Runway Incursion: What Went Wrong?
In Arizona, another unsettling event occurred when a jet veered off the runway and crashed into another plane. Greenberg categorized this incident as a “runway incursion,” a term used to describe situations where an aircraft unintentionally enters a runway or taxiway, leading to a collision.
“In Scottsdale, where when that Lear jet was landing, his main landing gear broke off and it was an uncontrollable situation as he veered off the runway and smashed into another jet, killing one person,” Greenberg said.
While this specific incident was isolated, Greenberg noted that runway incursions have been on the rise in recent years. In fact, there have been more runway incursions in the past two years than in the previous decade combined. This increase calls for a comprehensive review of airport and runway design to improve safety measures and prevent similar accidents in the future.
The Seattle Tarmac Collision: A Growing Problem
Another alarming event occurred at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, where a Japan Airlines jet collided with a parked Delta Airlines plane. Greenberg explained that this incident was the result of “tarmac congestion,” where too many planes are trying to land, depart, or taxi at the same time.
“This is happening more and more where you're having slow speed collisions on the ground between two jets, in this case, a Japan Airlines 787, the right wing slashing into the back of the tail of a parked Delta Airlines 737,” Greenberg said. “It's happening more and more, which raises the question of runway and tarmac capacity and what airports are going to do about it, limiting arrivals and departures.”
While these individual incidents are concerning, they all share common threads that point to broader systemic issues within the aviation industry. Greenberg emphasized the need for better air traffic control systems, more efficient airport design, and stricter protocols for runway safety.
Additionally, the FAA and other regulatory bodies must consider making changes to staffing levels, airport infrastructure, and operational procedures to keep pace with the growing demands of air travel, he said.
The aviation industry has made significant strides in improving safety over the years, but these recent incidents show that there are still gaps that need to be addressed.