Air Canada flight ordered to stop on St. Louis runway seconds before takeoff
An Air Canada Express plane heading to Toronto was halted Tuesday after air traffic control spotted a Southwest Boeing 737 approaching the same runway.
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An Air Canada Express flight bound for Toronto was abruptly halted on the runway Tuesday at Lambert St. Louis International Airport after air traffic control spotted a conflict with an incoming Southwest Airlines Boeing 737.
The Air Canada flight, call sign AC8886, operated by Jazz Aviation, had just received takeoff clearance when the clearance was cancelled within seconds. Air traffic control issued urgent instructions: "Jazz 8, stop, stop, Jazz stop. Jazz stop, Jazz stop, STOP JAZZ!"
The Air Canada crew acknowledged the instructions and confirmed holding position before reaching the boundary between taxiway and runway. The Southwest flight landed without injuries, and the Air Canada aircraft remained stopped before the hold-short line.
The Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement that the required separation was maintained between the two aircraft. The incident was captured on audio by aviation YouTube channel VASAviation.
Neither Air Canada nor Jazz Aviation issued a statement about the incident as of publication. The encounter comes after prior incidents involving Air Canada Express flights: in March, flight AC8646 struck a fire truck on the LaGuardia runway in New York, killing both pilots. That flight was arriving from Montreal with 76 people on board.
The facts
What airline was the incoming aircraft?
Southwest Airlines operated the Boeing 737 that was approaching the runway at Lambert St. Louis International Airport.
What was the call sign of the Air Canada flight?
The Air Canada Express flight, operated by Jazz Aviation, had the call sign AC8886.
Did either aircraft sustain damage?
The article does not state whether either aircraft sustained damage. The Southwest flight landed without injuries, and the Air Canada aircraft remained stopped before the hold-short line.
