Delta Airlines has postponed takeoffs this week in Mexico City after its flight crew noticed another aircraft landing on the same runway ahead of them. This incident occurred on Monday with Delta Flight 590, shortly after a pilot from Delta-operated SkyWest Airlines had to perform evasive maneuvers to avoid a midair collision with a US Air Force B-52 bomber. Additionally, there was a recent Delta flight that suffered an engine fire shortly after leaving Los Angeles, which added to safety concerns.
A spokesperson for Delta emphasized that the safety of passengers is paramount and mentioned the company’s commitment to cooperating with authorities during the investigation into the Mexico City incident. They expressed gratitude for the crew’s quick response and situational awareness, which reflects Delta’s extensive training initiatives.
The incident involved a Boeing 737-800 with 144 passengers, two pilots, and four flight attendants, which was in the process of taking off from Atlanta when they spotted an Aeromexico Embraer E190 landing before them.
According to reports, the Delta Flight 590 and Aeromexico Flight 1631 were only about 200 feet apart at that moment, with the Delta jet reaching a speed of approximately 60 mph before the crew managed to halt the takeoff. After this, the flight returned to the airport, refueled, and departed for Georgia around three hours later.
The airline has submitted reports to various aviation authorities, including Mexican aviation officials and the Federal Aviation Administration. There’s also an ongoing investigation into the events surrounding both the near miss and past incidents involving Delta flights.
Aeromexico had not provided a comment on the situation by Wednesday, adding to the uncertainty surrounding the incident.
