FAA Investigating Another Near-Collision at D.C.'s Reagan Airport Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Two planes almost collided at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on Wednesday, prompting a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) investigation.

An air traffic controller at the Arlington, Virginia, airport had to cancel the takeoff clearance for American Airlines Flight 2134, which was already heading down the runway at around 10:30 a.m. when another plane was cleared to land on an intersecting runway, Fox Business reported.

The other aircraft was a private King Air jet, according to the Daily Mail:

JUST IN – Hair-rising moment American Airlines came close to smashing into a private aircraft on the runway during take-off as pilot is forced to slam on the brakes at 110mph when private King aircraft lands in its path at Reagan National Airport — Daily Mail pic.twitter.com/I6lap0SOzR

— Insider Paper (@TheInsiderPaper) May 30, 2024

Audio recording of the conversation between the control tower and the planes obtained by TODAY revealed the tense moment the King Air pilot said he couldn't just “go around” because he was “already on the ground”:

There was a frightening close call at Reagan National Airport yesterday: An American Airlines jet was cleared for takeoff and was speeding down the runway at the exact same time a private plane was landing on an intersecting runway. pic.twitter.com/4fNpyvvsfK

— TODAY (@TODAYshow) May 30, 2024

The incident comes just weeks after the FAA announced another investigation into a close call involving JetBlue and Southwest planes at the same airport. 

“The safety of our customers and team members is our top priority, and we’re grateful to our crew for their professionalism,” American Airlines said, confirming to Fox Business that they will support the FAA in their probe into the more recent near-disaster.

In April, the FAA told the outlet that the agency has “seen a recent drop in the rate of serious runway incidents.” 

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