Investigation Underway for Near-Miss Incident at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport
The aviation world was momentarily on edge last Wednesday when a Southwest Airlines flight was forced to abort its landing procedure at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport due to a medical helicopter crossing its path. The incident, now under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), has raised concerns around air traffic control and system pressures amidst a government shutdown.
The incident involved Southwest Flight 1333 from Baltimore, which was on its final approach to the airports. Concurrently, an Airbus H145 medical helicopter was dispatched to pick up a patient from a hospital within the city. As per reports from Flightradar24, the Boeing 737 had to activate its Traffic Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) Resolution Advisory—an automated instruction guiding pilots on how to avoid a possible collision.
The alarm system was triggered as the helicopter passed approximately half a mile in front of the airliner, with both aircraft at a common altitude of 2,075 feet. The air traffic control tower had initially instructed the helicopter to pass behind the Southwest plane. However, the helicopter pilot suggested a snap decision to ascend and advance which questioned the existing decision.
On receiving the TCAS resolution advisory, the Southwest plane veered right and informed the controller that they had to go around. After completing a circumnavigation of the airport, the airliner eventually landed safely. The NTSB confirmed through a tweet that it has begun investigating the loss of separation incident, which was alarmingly similar to a previous catastrophe.
According to the NTSB, the aircraft experienced a loss of separation—meaning they came closer to each other than the required minimum safe distance. It’s a serious occurrence that has recently been under scrutiny, especially in the light of a fatal air collision in January involving an American Airlines flight and an Army Black Hawk helicopter over the Potomac River in Washington, DC, claiming 67 lives.
While the incident at Cleveland Hopkins didn’t lead to a collision or injuries, it has refocused attention on the pressure on the air traffic control system, particularly amid the ongoing government shutdown. As the shutdown continues, air traffic controllers are being compelled to work without pay, leading to an increasing number calling in sick.
Staffing shortages and the mounting pressure on controllers have led to flight delays at several airports since the beginning of the shutdown on October 1. The Federal Aviation Administration has been emphatic in its call for the shutdown to end so as to ensure that air traffic controllers are paid and travel disruptions minimized.
In a statement, a Southwest Airlines spokesperson praised the professionalism of their crew in handling the situation. “Southwest appreciates the professionalism of our Crew in responding to the situation. We are engaged with the [NTSB] and will support the investigation,” they said. “Nothing is more important to Southwest than the safety of our customers and employees.”
As the investigation continues, the incident at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport is a harsh reminder of the critical role of air traffic controllers in maintaining air safety, and the potential consequences of any disruption to their services.