In another concerning incident at Washington National Airport (DCA), two aircraft narrowly avoided a collision on Wednesday, May 29, 2024, due to an error by an air traffic controller. This marks the second major controller mistake at the airport in just one month.

The incident occurred on intersecting runways at the airport, involving a King Air turboprop and an American A319 aircraft. The King Air turboprop had been cleared to land on runway 33, while the American A319 was cleared to line up and wait on runway 1. However, moments later, without realizing the imminent danger, the air traffic controller cleared the American A319 for takeoff while the King Air turboprop was on its final approach for the intersecting runway.

Realizing the mistake, the air traffic controller urgently instructed the King Air turboprop to go around, but the pilots informed that they had already landed. In response, the American A319 aborted its takeoff at a high speed to avoid a collision. Fortunately, the quick reactions of both pilots prevented a disaster at the airport.

Following the incident, the American A319 returned to the gate. It was inspected and later flew again approximately four hours later. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued a statement confirming that an investigation will be conducted to determine the cause of the incident.

This close call serves as a reminder of the importance of clear and effective communication between air traffic controllers. It is concerning that the same controller was responsible for all instructions in this particular incident. Although the circumstances were demanding, with simultaneous takeoffs and landings on both runways, the potential consequences of any lapse in judgment by air traffic controllers are significant.

The frequency of such close calls at airports is a cause for concern. The fact that this is the second incident involving an air traffic controller at Washington National Airport in just one month raises further alarm. It emphasizes the need for stringent measures to prevent future errors and ensure the safety of passengers and crew.

Fortunately, no one was injured in this incident, thanks to the swift action taken by the pilots. However, it raises questions about how long it will be until luck runs out and a close call ends in tragedy. Improved communication protocols, enhanced training, and increased vigilance are essential to prevent such incidents and safeguard the aviation industry.

As investigations continue, it is crucial that lessons are learned from these incidents and necessary changes are implemented to minimize the risks of similar incidents occurring in the future.