Crew members on a Swiss Air flight prevented what could have been a disastrous crash at John F. Kennedy International Airport when the pilot realized that four planes were cleared to take off at the same time and alerted air traffic controllers.
The Zurich-bound Flight 17 was cleared for takeoff from the New York airport on April 17, but as the plane was taxiing down the runway, the pilot spotted other aircrafts in the same area.
"Swiss 17k heavy, rejecting takeoff. Traffic on the runway," the pilot told Air Traffic Control.
The Federal Aviation Administration is reportedly investigating the incident, which has been attributed to communications errors. The agency will determine whether or not proper safety procedures were followed, according to WCBS.
Swiss Air praised their crew members for averting a near disaster on the runway.
"Due to the high level of situational awareness and quick reaction of our crew, a potentially dangerous situation was quickly de-escalated," the airline told WABC.
