Air Canada Jet Avoids Disaster at San Francisco International Airport
An Air Canada jet was involved in an incident which aviation experts claim could have been the "greatest aviation disaster in history" late last Friday at San Francisco International Airport (SFO).
Air Canada Flight 759, with 140 people on board, was cleared to land on runway 28R at SFO after a five-hour flight from Toronto (YYZ), but instead lined up with Taxiway C, which runs parallel to the 12,000ft-long runway. On that same taxiway were four other airliners, full of passengers and fuel, waiting to take off, including a United Boeing 787-9 bound for Singapore. The FAA said that the pilot was in the process of landing the aircraft manually (without instruments) and lined up incorrectly.
As the Airbus A320 approached the airport, audio from air traffic communication recorded the Air Canada pilot asking ATC if he was cleared to land because he saw aircraft lights on the runway.
Air Canada pilot: Tower Air Canada 759 I can see lights on the runway there. Can you confirm we're clear to land?
Control tower: Air Canada 759 confirmed cleared to land on 28R. There is no one on 28R but you.
Air Canada pilot: Okay 759
Unknown: Where is this guy going? He's on the taxiway.
United Airlines Pilot: United One, Air Canada flew directly over us.
Control tower: Yeah, I saw that, guys.
The air traffic controller instructed the pilots to perform a "go-around" — a move where the aircraft aborts the landing, climbs again and circles the airport before attempting the landing again. The twin-engine jet landed safely on its second attempt.
The FAA is investigating this incident to determine how close the arriving jet got to the planes on the ground on Taxiway C. Peter Fitzpatrick, an Air Canada spokesman, said the flight "landed normally without incident" after the go-around and have no additional information to offer as the airline is still investigating the circumstances that led to the series of events.
H/T: The Mercury News
TPG featured card
at Bilt's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 1X | Choose to earn up to 1X points on rent and mortgage payments with no transaction fee |
| 2X | Earn 2X points + the option to earn 4% back in Bilt Cash on everyday purchases |
Pros
- Choice to earn up to 1 Bilt Point per dollar spent on rent and mortgage payments
- Elevated everyday earnings with both Bilt Points and the option to earn Bilt Cash
- $400 Bilt Travel Portal hotel credit per year (up to $200 biannually)
- $200 Bilt Cash annually
- Priority Pass membership
- No foreign transaction fees
Cons
- Moderate annual fee
- Designed primarily for members seeking a premium, all-in-one card
- Earn points on housing with no transaction fee
- Choose to earn 4% back in Bilt Cash on everyday spend. Use Bilt Cash to unlock point earnings on rent and mortgage payments with no transaction fee, up to 1X.
- 2X points on everyday spend
- $400 Bilt Travel Hotel credit. Applied twice a year, as $200 statement credits, for qualifying Bilt Travel Portal hotel bookings.
- $200 Bilt Cash (awarded annually). At the end of each calendar year, any Bilt Cash balance over $100 will expire.
- Welcome bonus (subject to approval): 50,000 Bilt Points + Gold Status after spending $4,000 on everyday purchases in the first 90 days + $300 of Bilt Cash.
- Priority Pass ($469/year value). See Guide to Benefits.
- Bilt Point redemptions include airlines, hotels, future rent and mortgage payments, Lyft rides, statement credits, student loan balances, a down payment on a home, and more.