Southwest Plane Narrowly Misses Emergency Vehicle At BWI Airport: FAA

Potential disaster was avoided at the Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport when an airplane narrowly missed striking an emergency vehicle while taking off in January, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

The Southwest plane nearly struck an emergency vehicle at BWI Airport.
Photo Credit: *Wikimedia Commons/Colton Henline*

Zak Failla

03/22/2023 11:36 a.m.

Officials said in a new report that an airport emergency vehicle crossed Runway 15 at the airport without authorization as a Southwest flight was taking off at BWI Airport on Thursday, Jan. 12.

The plan narrowly missed the vehicle, and was able to take off before striking the ambulance.

According to the FAA, the vehicle was approximately 170 feet past the runway when the plane flew over the intersection at more than 125 mph.

The incident was labeled as “Category B,” which represents “an incident in which separation decreases and there is a significant potential for collision, which may result in a time critical corrective/evasive response to avoid a collision,” according to the FAA.

Officials brought the close call to light following a recent safety summit that was convened by the FAA after a string of near-misses on runways across the country.

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