Listen: The moment a FedEx flight comes within metres of colliding with Southwest 737 in Austin

A commercial jetline takes off from a runway at Austin Bergstrom Airport in Austin, Texas.
By Dan lake


The NTSB has opened an investigation into a serious incident at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport.

It involved a Southwest Boeing 737 which was taking off, and a FedEx Boeing 767 coming in to land.

The investigation will look into how the aircraft managed to get within metres of each other.

According to air traffic control audio – which can be listened to below – the FedEx flight had been cleared to land.

Moments later, Southwest Flight 708 was cleared for take off.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCn5dFq9s14[/youtube]

At the same time of clearance, the crew onboard the Southwest flight had been warned of the FedEx Boeing 767, approaching the runway and were told it was three miles out from touchdown.

There’s then some delay before the next communication, when the FedEx crew ask for confirmation they had been cleared to land.

Following further delay, the crew of the Southwest flight, at this point still stationary on the runway, was asked if it was departing.

“Rolling now,” the crew confirmed.

Despite the serious nature of the moments following, the radio traffic was relatively minimal.

The FedEx flight then initiated a go-around and told the Southwest crew they should abort their take-off.

An investigation has been launched. (Supplied)

However, crew on the Southwest flight then inform controllers they are unable to abort their take-off and begin to climb off the runway.

It was then that the close call took place, with both aircraft ascending from the runway – one almost directly underneath the other – according to published altitude data.

The FedEx flight completed its go-around and landed shortly after without further incident.

Southwest Flight 708 continued on to Cancun, Mexico.

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