In a recent alarming incident in Texas, a FedEx plane narrowly avoided colliding with a Southwest Airlines jet that was in the midst of taking off. This near miss has raised concerns about the current state of the aviation system in the United States. Jennifer Homendy, the chair of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), testified before a Senate panel on Thursday, emphasizing that the surge in close calls between planes at U.S. airports this year is a "clear warning sign" that the aviation system is under stress.

Homendy pointed out that while such events are extremely rare, they highlight the strain on the safety system that cannot be ignored. Since the onset of the pandemic, there has been a significant surge in air traffic and staffing shortages, which has put additional pressure on the aviation industry. Moreover, she criticized the lack of meaningful training and the excessive reliance on computer-based instruction by both the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and airlines.

To address these concerns, the FAA announced earlier this week that it will hold meetings at 16 airports before the end of the year to develop plans aimed at identifying and reducing safety risks. Among the airports hosting these meetings are Dallas-Fort Worth International, Newark Liberty International in New Jersey, and Logan International in Boston. This initiative is an addition to the 90 meetings that the FAA had previously announced in August.

The recent surge in close calls has been a cause for alarm within the aviation community, with the scariest incident occurring in Austin, Texas, back in February. During poor visibility conditions in the early morning hours, a FedEx cargo plane preparing to land flew directly over a Southwest Airlines jet that was in the process of taking off. According to the NTSB, the two aircraft came within approximately 100 feet of colliding. Shockingly, an air traffic controller had cleared both planes to use the same runway, highlighting potential communication issues.

While some recent close calls have been attributed to the actions of pilots, the NTSB is currently investigating about half a dozen incidents this year alone. Furthermore, the FAA reported that there were 23 incidents classified as the most serious type of close calls in the last fiscal year, an increase from 16 the previous year and 11 a decade ago. However, these figures may not fully capture the extent of such incidents, as some estimates suggest they are greatly underestimated.

During the hearing, representatives from unions representing pilots and air traffic controllers, as well as a former chief of the FAA, were scheduled to testify. This highlights the gravity of the situation and the urgency to address the growing safety concerns within the aviation industry. The FAA and relevant stakeholders must prioritize implementing technology improvements and enhancing training protocols to avoid potentially disastrous runway incursions and ensure a safer air travel experience for all.