Exclusive: SFO near miss might have triggered ‘greatest aviation disaster in history’
#1
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Benicia CA
Programs: Alaska MVP Gold 75K, AA 3.8MM, UA 1.1MM, enjoying the retired life
Posts: 31,849
Exclusive: SFO near miss might have triggered ‘greatest aviation disaster in history’
SAN FRANCISCO — In what one aviation expert called a near-miss of what could have been the largest aviation disaster ever, an Air Canada pilot on Friday narrowly avoided a tragic mistake: landing on the San Francisco International Airport taxiway instead of the appropriate runway.
Just saw this on the evening news in the Bay Area and found a few articles about it.
A different article:
As the pilot of the Air Canada plane appears to be moving toward the taxiway, another pilot alerts the tower.
"Where's this guy going? He's on the taxiway," the other pilot said.
That's when the SFO tower ordered Air Canada to abort the landing and go-around.
"Where's this guy going? He's on the taxiway," the other pilot said.
That's when the SFO tower ordered Air Canada to abort the landing and go-around.
#3
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: YYZ
Programs: Only J via Peasant Points, 777HDPeasant or The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance and Narcissism.
Posts: 5,954
#4
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Why? Why? Zed! / Why? You? Elle! / Gee! Are You!
Programs: Irrelevant
Posts: 3,543
#5
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Toronto, ON
Programs: AC 75K
Posts: 6,363
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Canada
Programs: UA*1K MM SK EBG LATAM BL
Posts: 23,309
"Air Canada issued a statement Monday saying, "Air Canada flight AC759 from Toronto was preparing to land at SFO Friday night when the aircraft initiated a go-around. The aircraft landed normally without incident. We are still investigating the circumstances."
"Initiated a go-around"="hard landing"
"Initiated a go-around"="hard landing"
#7
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Why? Why? Zed! / Why? You? Elle! / Gee! Are You!
Programs: Irrelevant
Posts: 3,543
#8
Join Date: May 2015
Programs: All the programs!
Posts: 1,006
This situation could've ended horribly. 4 widebodys loaded with pax & fuel sitting on the taxiway.
AC759: "Tower, just want to confirm. This is Air Canada 759. We see lights on the runway there. Across the runway. Can you confirm are we cleared to land?"
SFO TOWER: "Confirmed cleared to land. Runway 28 Right. There's no one on 2-8 Right but you."
SFO TOWER: "Confirmed cleared to land. Runway 28 Right. There's no one on 2-8 Right but you."
#9
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: YVR
Programs: AC E75K, WJ Gold, NEXUS, Marriott Gold
Posts: 316
AC759 sounded quite unsure; UAL1 was not amused.
Edited all ATC except AC759, SFO Tower and UAL1 -
http://link.trekcubed.com/ac759-sfo-070717-goaround.mp3
Audio Source: LiveATC
Edited all ATC except AC759, SFO Tower and UAL1 -
http://link.trekcubed.com/ac759-sfo-070717-goaround.mp3
Audio Source: LiveATC
#11
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: LGA
Programs: DL DM, UA Gold, Marriott Plat Prem., Hilton Gold, National Exec Elite.
Posts: 2,533
this happened with Delta in 2009; and the pilots were not disciplined. [and by happened, I mean they actually landed on the taxiway]
https://www.flightglobal.com/news/ar...axiway-336663/
And with Alaska in 2015:
https://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/...or-runway.html
https://www.flightglobal.com/news/ar...axiway-336663/
And with Alaska in 2015:
https://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/...or-runway.html
#12
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: OGG, YYC
Programs: AA, AC
Posts: 3,697
AC759 sounded quite unsure; UAL1 was not amused.
Edited all ATC except AC759, SFO Tower and UAL1 -
http://link.trekcubed.com/ac759-sfo-070717-goaround.mp3
Audio Source: LiveATC
Edited all ATC except AC759, SFO Tower and UAL1 -
http://link.trekcubed.com/ac759-sfo-070717-goaround.mp3
Audio Source: LiveATC
#13
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: YUL
Programs: AC SEMM, NEXUS
Posts: 858
#15
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: YVR
Programs: AC E75K, WJ Gold, NEXUS, Marriott Gold
Posts: 316