5 months ago
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(NewsNation) — An air postulation controller prevented the perchance unsafe departure of a Southwest Airlines formation connected a Florida airdrome taxiway connected Thursday, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
The incidental involving Flight 3278 happened astatine 9:30 a.m. astatine Orland International Airport arsenic the level attempted to depart for Albany International Airport successful New York, FAA officials said.
Southwest Airlines said its "crew mistook the aboveground for the adjacent runway," but nary injuries were reported.
"An aerial postulation controller astatine Orlando International Airport canceled the takeoff clearance for Southwest Airlines Flight 3278 ... aft the craft began its takeoff rotation connected a taxiway," FAA officials said successful a statement.
The FAA said nary different craft were progressive and it's investigating.
The incidental follows mounting scrutiny pursuing respective caller aviation incidents, including a near-collision last period at Chicago’s Midway International Airport involving a Southwest Airlines jet and a Jan. 29 crash at Washington-Reagan National Airport that killed 67 radical aft an American Airlines determination pitchy collided with an Army helicopter.
To code staffing shortages among aerial postulation controllers, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced a hiring surge, with a 30% summation successful starting salaries for those who be the FAA academy. He noted the mean starting wage is much than $160,000 per year.
"Nothing is much important to Southwest than the Safety of our Customers and Employees," Southwest said successful a statement.
