On a gusty Sunday night at New York City's LaGuardia Airport, a Delta Airlines jet experienced a mishap as its left wing touched the runway during a go-around procedure.
According to Newsweek, the incident involved Endeavor Air Flight 4814, which struck the runway amid a repeat landing attempt prompted by an unstable approach.
The aircraft departing from Jacksonville, Florida, was approaching LaGuardia when the crew decided the landing could not be safely completed on the first attempt. This decision led them to undertake a go-around—a standard maneuver used to abort a landing and make another attempt for a safer approach.
The go-around occurred shortly after 10:00 p.m. with 76 passengers and four crew members on board, including two pilots and two flight attendants. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) stated that the maneuver was executed due to the unstable nature of the initial landing approach.
Weather reports at the time noted winds reaching up to 35 mph and the presence of a slight mist but stopped short of deeming these conditions extreme. Nonetheless, the challenging weather played a crucial role in the events that transpired during Flight 4814's landing attempt.
During the go-around, as the aircraft prepared to make a second landing attempt, a witness on the ground observed sparks emanating from one of its wings. This observation was quickly relayed to the cockpit via air traffic control. The pilot confirmed that they had not felt any impact or unusual activity but agreed to a visual inspection once safely on the ground. The plane completed its landing after the go-around and taxied to the gate without further incident. All passengers disembarked safely, and no injuries were reported as a result of the event.
Following the incident, the FAA launched an investigation, as is standard procedure when any part of an aircraft makes unintended contact with the runway. This investigation aims to understand the full circumstances of the go-around and the reasons behind the initial unstable approach.
A spokesperson for the FAA detailed the occurrence, explaining, "The left wing of Endeavor Air Flight 4814 struck the runway at LaGuardia Airport in New York while the pilot was executing a go-around due to an unstable approach." This clarifies that the contact with the runway occurred during the corrective action rather than the initial approach.
Delta Airlines, through a spokesperson, assured the public that the flight crew adhered to established procedures for safely conducting a go-around at LaGuardia. "The aircraft landed safely and proceeded to its arrival gate. We apologize to our customers for the experience," said the Delta spokesperson to NBC News.
Despite the dramatic moments, reactions from the community and passengers remained calm. The professional response from the flight crew and quick action by airport staff helped ensure safety and minimized potential panic among the passengers. The discussion between the pilot and air traffic control highlighted earlier, where the controller noted, "Somebody saw some sparks from one of your wings. You guys feel anything?" and the pilot responded, "We didn't, but we'll check it," was part of the standard communication intended to ensure passenger and aircraft safety.
While the incident did alarm some passengers and observers, the lack of physical injuries and the controlled handling of the situation by both the crew and LaGuardia personnel provided reassurance. Other flights at LaGuardia Airport continued without disruption, indicating the isolated nature of the incident.
This incident at LaGuardia emphasizes the importance of strict adherence to safety procedures by airline crews. Go-arounds, while not uncommon, demonstrate the pilots' commitment to safety over convenience or schedule adherence.
The professional handling of this incident serves as a reminder of the rigorous training and protocols that airline crews undergo to handle various potential airborne and landing scenarios. As investigations continue, insights from this incident will likely contribute to further enhancing aviation safety measures, particularly related to handling adverse weather conditions and other in-flight anomalies.
In conclusion, while the touch of the wing on the runway is not a common occurrence, the swift actions taken by the crew of Flight 4814 ensured that passenger safety was not compromised during this daunting incident at one of the nation’s busiest airports.