Continental 757 landet in Newark auf Taxiway

[Jan-Paul Schuchna]

AIRLINE PILOT IN BLUNDER LAND

TOUCHES DOWN ON NEWARK TAXIWAY

 

October 31, 2006 -- A catastrophe was narrowly averted when a jetliner landed on a narrow taxiway at Newark Airport instead of on the runway, The Post has learned.

 

In an astonishing screw-up Saturday, the pilot of Continental Flight 1883 touched down on a taxiway just to the north of the runway - only feet from administrative buildings. Then he proceeded to the gate as if nothing had happened, sources said yesterday.

 

"To say this is lucky was an understatement," one source said.

 

"This is a big f- - -ing deal! How do you land a jet on a taxiway?"

 

FAA investigators are trying to figure out what caused the "pilot deviation," officials said yesterday.

 

Although no one was hurt, experts say there could have been a disaster had another plane been on the taxiway at the time.

 

The Boeing 757-200, flying in from Orlando, Fla., made a standard approach over the New Jersey Turnpike.

 

But rather than landing on the 6,800-foot-long, 150-foot-wide Runway 29, it touched down on the 70-foot-wide taxiway at 6:31 p.m., sources said.

 

The wingspan of the jet is 155 feet.

 

The pilot made such a short stop, he left skid marks on the taxiway, which were later found by police investigating the bizarre incident, according to a source.

 

Experts said they were baffled how, on a clear night, the pilot could mistake a runway for a taxiway.

 

The sun had set at 5:58 p.m.

 

The plane carried 157 passengers and a crew of six, airline officials said.

 

Port Authority police were immediately notified.

 

But the pilot didn't hang around to explain himself.

 

"There was no acknowledgement from the crew they had landed at the taxiway," the source said.

 

Regulations require a pilot to notify the control tower if the runway is missed, sources said.

 

The penalties for the failure to call the tower may be more severe than for the mistake itself, another source said.

 

It's possible the passengers had no idea what had occurred, the sources said.

 

FAA officials would say only that the matter is "under investigation."

 

Continental said it has grounded the pilots pending the investigation.

 

"We are conducting a review of the landing to determine how it occurred," spokeswoman Mary Clark said.

 

"The pilots have been temporarily removed from flying duties and are assisting the company in analyzing the incident," she said.

 

"We have a very strong focus on safety, and plan to use any findings to help avoid a reoccurrence in the future."

 

The error is serious enough that the pilots could face fines or suspensions, and possibly license revocation, the sources said.

 

The names of the pilot and second-in-command were not made public.

 

The administration buildings alongside the taxiway house PA offices and fire equipment, officials said.

 

PA officials did not return calls for comment.

 

 

http://www.nypost.com/seven/10312006/news/regionalnews/airline_pilot_in_blunder_land_regionalnews_murray_weiss_and_jeremy_olshan.htm

 

http://www.aero.de/news.php?varnewsid=1475

 

 

Gruß Jan-Paul