The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating after a United Airlines pilot was forced to pull up mid-descent due to a plane still on the runway at Boston’s Logan Airport, a maneuver authorities are calling a “go-around.”
The incident happened Monday, Sept. 11 at about 10:45 p.m. when an air traffic controller instructed United Airlines flight 2267 to pull up from its descent due to a previous flight still on the runway, according to a Federal Aviation Administration spokesperson.
The go-around was described as a “safe, routine” procedure performed “at the discretion” of a pilot or an air traffic controller, according to the FAA.
“To an airline passenger, the event may seem like an emergency maneuver,” the spokesperson said. “However, the controller and pilot are working together to prevent an unsafe condition from occurring.”
A United Airlines spokesperson referred questions to the FAA.
A passenger on the United flight spoke with Boston 25 and described the incident.
“People on the plane gasped at the rapid pull-up and the roar of the engines as the rapid change in speed and trajectory pushed us backward into our seats and we saw the tarmac and land rapidly disappear under us,” the passenger said. “Once we were back high in the sky circling, the pilot came on the loudspeaker and said something like, ‘The runway… uh… was not able to be cleared of planes in time for us… uh…. we had to pull up and will circle for a bit and land shortly.’”
The news outlet also obtained a recording of the air traffic controller telling the pilot: “Sorry about that. An aircraft was still on the runway.”
The FAA awarded Logan Airport with $44.9 million in new funding to reduce the chances of “close calls” on runways. The funding will go towards simplifying taxiways and installing new lighting systems, among other improvements.
Last month, a subcontractor for JetBlue died while using a forklift at the airport. A GoFundMe is raising money for the family of Raul Santiago, 31, after his death on Aug. 29.
In mid-August, the FAA announced it would launch an investigation after a close call between two planes nearly collided. On Aug. 14, an American Airlines flight was told to stay grounded after nearly being struck by a Spirit Airlines plane.
The incident on Aug. 14 was at least the fourth close call at Logan Airport this year. Back in February, a small private jet almost crashed with a JetBlue plane on the runway. The JetBlue pilot managed to evade the other plane.
Then in March, two United Airlines planes hit one another in a minor collision as one plane was being dragged to its gate just before takeoff. No injuries were reported.
In June, another United flight clipped the tail of a Delta plane while taxiing at a low speed, 7News reported. No one was hurt despite passengers being onboard both planes.
