DEI "pilot" in 3...2...1...
(www.bbc.co.uk)
You're viewing a single comment thread. View all comments, or full comment thread.
Comments (19)
sorted by:
This seems to be a massive communications fuck up between the tower, the plane, and the emergency equipment. My guess is that the fire truck responding to a call was given clearance to cross the active runway but the tower did not tell the plane that was landing to go around. Or, the fire truck thought they had the clearance to cross the active runway but didn't. Or the tower thought they told the fire truck to hold position until the plane landed then they could proceed. Either way, this all seems like just a tragic accident that might have been brought on by miscommunication.
Correct, ATC fucked up.
Agree, the Tower is the control. No vehicle moves onto or crosses an active runway unless advised to do so by Tower.
I'm not sure I've gotten this right (too tired, need sleep), but from listening to the ATC audio it appears the truck was cleared then the ATC dude was informed of a runway being closed (presumably by another ATC operator, a gal) and the ATC dude tried to get the truck to stop, repeatedly urging the truck to "Stop. Stop, stop...", but in those few seconds there was no indication from the truck driver that the message had been received and then the collision occurred.
It's unclear (to me) whether the closed runway was #4 and this because it was being actively used by the incoming Air Canada flight, closed to vehicles, or if some original arrival runway had been closed and the AC plane had been rerouted to runway #4, which the ATC dude had just authorized the vehicle to proceed on. In either case, he tried to get the vehicle to stop, but that short delay proved tragic.
Edit: Listening to this again, it appears the female voice saying the runway is closed is AFTER the crash, not before. So the truck had been cleared to proceed then seconds later was told to stop, but that was too late. The runway and the entire airport were closed by ATC almost immediately following the crash.
3/22 ? It was planned !