NTSB calls for faster reporting mechanism for air incidents
National Transportation Safety Board officials have urged speedier reporting of dangerous incidents before crucial evidence is lost.
That was the case highlighted in the NTSB’s final report of the near-miss at San Francisco Airport in what could have been the world’s worst airliner disaster.
The Air Canada almost touched down on a crowded taxiway filled with several other planes pacjed with passengers.
It came within just 60 feet of impact as other jets were lining up for takeoff.
The Air Canada captain, Dimitrios Kisses didn’t report the incident until the next morning as it was late at night and he was ‘very tired.’
Because of this, the plane was deployed on another flight in the morning and audio on the cockpit voice recorder was taped over.
The NTSB did not allege the pilot delayed reporting the incident to hide audio evidence.
"Only a few feet of separation prevented this from possibly becoming the worst aviation accident in history. Over 1,000 people were at imminent risk of serious injury or death," said NTSB vice chairman Bruce Landsberg.
The report had blamed the pilots for confusing the taxiway for a runway as a parallel runway was closed that night.
The NTSB criticized the policy of self-reporting of safety issues and wants the Federal Aviation Administration to come up with tighter rules allowing for immediate intervention to investigate major incidents.
The NTSB also recommended that cockpit recorders hold the last 25 hours’ audio of flying time, compared with just two hours under existing rules.
"It is noteworthy that the NTSB’s recommendations were not directed at Air Canada specifically and address many areas for improvement," said Air Canada spokesman Peter Fitzpatrick.
Since the incident Air Canada has enhanced training to better familiarize pilots with the San Francisco airport layout.
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Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
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