FAA probes near-collision at Atlanta airport

updated 12:05 p.m. ET Jan. 12, 2008

ATLANTA - The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating a near-collision of two airplanes on the runway at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on Friday.

Investigators believe an Atlantic Southeast Airlines flight bound for Greensboro, N.C., ignored orders from the control tower to stop its taxi across the runway, coming within seconds of running into a Mexico-bound Delta Air Lines Inc. jet, FAA spokeswoman Kathleen Bergen said.

The ASA pilot acknowledged the orders and repeated them back to controllers in the tower but did not stop, Bergen said.

The ASA jet was carrying 44 passengers, and the Delta flight had 130 aboard.

Air traffic controllers estimated the planes came within 1,250 feet — or about 2 to 3 seconds — of colliding. Both continued on their scheduled flights and arrived safely at their destinations, airline officials said.

ASA is a Delta Connection carrier and is owned by SkyWest Inc.

Don't miss these Travel stories from msnbc.com   Popular ski playgrounds around U.S.   The top-rated travel photos of 2009 Uniquely American: PB&J and cheeseburgers Slice of heaven: The country’s best pizza The fastest disappearing natural wonders

MORE FROM NEWS

News Section Front

Bride marries arriving groom at Texas airport   Airlines waive fees for storm-affected travelers Eurostar back in action after 4-day  shutdown Police react to unruly crowd at Delta terminal 10 years of twisted travel Snow, icy conditions snarl travel in Britain October highway travel off 0.5 percent from year ago Spanish airline is grounded Airlines may have trouble following DOT rules Feds impose 3-hour limit on tarmac strandings News Section Front   Add News headlines to your news reader: