An air traffic controller accidentally cleared two planes to take off on parallel runways around the same time, putting them on a course dangerously close to one another. Perhaps what’s most noteworthy here is how the air traffic controller then acted confused about how this happened…
So here’s where the issue arises — the 777 that was cleared to take off still had to actually get onto the runway, which takes a little time, given the taxiway configuration around 1R. It took the plane around 30 seconds to get into position and start its takeoff roll… roughly coinciding with when the 737 was cleared for takeoff.
The two planes started their takeoff rolls around the same time on parallel runways, and they had the exact same departure clearance. For obvious reasons, that’s not going to end well.
A great solo travel tip spotted this week on One Mile at a Time.
