Pilot Avoids Collision with Truck at Charlotte Airport

An American Airlines pilot reported a near collision with a truck at Charlotte Douglas International Airport on Wednesday. The pilot, operating Flight 1197, informed Air Traffic Control that the plane "nearly hit" a truck that was speeding past on the concourse. The pilot stated, "They just went right in front of us," and mentioned that he had to slam on the brakes to avoid a collision.

The pilot indicated that the aircraft's taxi light was activated and that the plane was in motion when the truck, described as a white-and-black pickup used for airport operations, sped past. The pilot expressed concern, stating, "Someone's got to be notified right away. , when the incident occurred.

A spokesperson for Charlotte Douglas International Airport acknowledged the reported incident and stated that safety and security are top priorities at the airport. The spokesperson confirmed that the incident is under investigation in accordance with safety standards. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) also stated that it is looking into the incident.

This event follows a recent crash involving an Air Canada jet and a firefighting truck at LaGuardia Airport in New York City. In a statement, American Airlines praised the professionalism of the crew and clarified that the truck involved was not affiliated with the airline.

The airline noted that the truck appeared to have a transponder, which allows for communication with air traffic controllers.

The Air Traffic Control audio from the incident concluded with the controller confirming visibility of the operations vehicle. This incident occurs shortly after the FAA launched an investigation into a separate near collision between a Frontier Airlines plane and two trucks at Los Angeles International Airport.