On Thursday evening, October 4, 2024, a disturbing incident occurred at New York's John F. Kennedy Airport (JFK), endangering the safety of passengers and crew on a flight to London Gatwick.
The captain of Norse Atlantic Airways, operating flight Z0702, had to apply emergency braking to avoid a collision with another aircraft on the runway, raising questions about aviation safety and coordination at major airports.
Critical moment at the start
Flight Z0702, scheduled to take off at 18:20 p.m. local time in New York, was traveling at 87 knots (about 100 miles per hour) when the crew noticed a "potential obstacle on the runway." According to reports from Flightradar24, the aircraft, which was a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, began to brake abruptly and taxied back onto the runway. Fortunately, the crew managed to get the situation under control and the flight was eventually able to take off after a short delay.
A flight attendant on board, who remained anonymous, explained that the other aircraft was attempting to take off at the same time but was positioned on an intersecting runway. This obstacle was encountered when the Norse aircraft was already on the runway. However, the crew was well trained to handle such emergency situations, which led to a safe termination of the incident.
reactions of the passengers
Passengers on board the flight were understandably startled by the unexpected emergency stop. One of the travelers, Angela Blevins, reported that while the stop was surprising, most passengers remained calm. "It didn't feel like a crash or that we were in danger," she explained. Such incidents are rare, but they can be very stressful for travelers.
The airline confirmed that it was a minor incident and that the safety of all passengers and crew members was the airline's top priority at all times. "Our pilots are highly trained for such cases," said an official statement from Norse Atlantic Airways.
Background to Norse Atlantic Airways
Norse Atlantic Airways is a Norwegian low-cost carrier that began operations in June 2022. With a fleet of 12 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, the airline serves several international routes, including the popular connections between New York and London Gatwick. The company specializes in offering low-cost long-haul flights after its predecessor Norwegian Air Shuttle ran into financial difficulties.
Norse offers daily flights between JFK and Gatwick, with a flight duration of approximately six hours and ten minutes. In recent months, the airline has continuously expanded its route network and plans to add more destinations, including Las Vegas.
Security Protocols and Challenges at JFK
The incident highlights the challenges faced by large airports like JFK. Coordination between different aircraft and monitoring of the airspace are critical to preventing potential collisions.
The German air traffic control and similar institutions around the world have established protocols to ensure the safe flow of air traffic. Despite these measures, the risk of errors is always present, especially during peak times when many aircraft want to take off or land at the same time.