• On May 6, a Republic Airways jet aborted takeoff due to a near-collision with a United Airlines plane.
• Both FAA and NTSB are investigating the incident amid rising concerns about runway safety.
• A miscommunication between air traffic controllers caused the near miss at LaGuardia Airport.
• The incident has sparked discussions on improving runway safety technology across U.S. airports.
• Passengers expressed distress over the incident, with one seeking medical attention post-landing.

On May 6, a Republic Airways flight, designated as American Eagle AA4736, was forced to abort its takeoff from LaGuardia Airport to avoid a collision with a United Airlines plane that was still on the runway. This incident occurred around 12:35 AM, and audio obtained by ABC revealed that the air traffic controller acknowledged their mistake, saying, "Sorry, I thought United had cleared well before that," to the pilot of the Republic jet as they initiated their takeoff procedure, according to Indiatimes and SFGate.

The close call, which brought the Republic flight within 0.27 miles of the United jet, is under investigation by both the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). This incident is not isolated; there has been a troubling increase in runway incursions at LaGuardia and other airports. Despite being equipped with advanced radar technology, designed to prevent such dangerous situations, the airport is experiencing ongoing challenges with runway safety procedures, according to HuffPost.

Passengers reported significant distress following the incident, notably Renee Hoffer, who noted that the abrupt stop felt akin to a car accident, causing her injuries that required medical attention. She expressed frustration over airlines' lack of accountability and communication regarding the incident, a sentiment echoed by other passengers who were not provided with adequate support after what they termed a harrowing experience. Following this close call, the FAA is considering additional safety measures and technologies to enhance communication between air traffic controllers and pilots in similar situations.Indiatimes, HuffPost.

Despite these ongoing safety concerns, the FAA reported that the frequency of runway incursions has fluctuated around 30 per million takeoffs and landings over the past decade. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy is campaigning for Congress to approve a multibillion-dollar overhaul of air traffic control technology aimed at improving safety across U.S. airports, where less advanced monitoring equipment still relies heavily on human observation rather than real-time radar tracking. This modernization effort has become increasingly urgent following multiple serious near misses, including one in February that involved a Southwest Airlines flight in Chicago, emphasizing systemic issues that affect flight safety nationwide, as detailed by Indiatimes and SFGate.