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A LATAM Airlines Airbus A320 that was set to depart from São Paulo/Guarulhos Governor André Franco Montoro International Airport (GRU) in Brazil this Saturday had to abort its takeoff due to conflicting taxiing traffic crossing the runway. The jet’s crew had been informed that their takeoff authorization had been canceled due to the presence of these aircraft, but began accelerating anyway, prompting panic.
This caused the air traffic controller to repeat their order to the crew concerning the cancelation of their takeoff authorization, at which point they did indeed abort their departure. This allowed the two other aircraft, inbound widebodies from American Airlines and Delta Air Lines, to cross the runway as planned. However, with low visibility prevailing due to fog, this situation is one that could have been worse.
Confusion In The Fog
According to reporting on the matter by Aeroin, the LATAM flight in question was LA8019 from Guarulhos to Mendoza (MDZ) in Argentina. Data from Flightradar24 shows that this service is scheduled to leave São Paulo at 8:00 AM, but, on Saturday, it did not get airborne until 8:46 AM. This was due to its departure being delayed as a result of a dramatic aborted takeoff in low visibility as fog engulfed the runway.
The flight had initially been cleared to take off from runway 10L, but this authorization was then briefly revoked to allow two inbound jets that had just landed on 10R to cross 10L on their way to their gates. However, despite the pilots acknowledging this cancelation, the LATAM jet began its takeoff roll anyway, and it only stopped after the cancelation was reiterated by a panicked controller. LATAM said that:
“The aircraft that carried out flight LA8019 interrupted its takeoff after a request from air traffic control. The procedure was carried out safely. The company clarifies that it is in contact with the authorities.”
A Busy Morning For US Arrivals
Further coverage of this close call by Band confirmed that the two aircraft that had been given the authorization to cross runway 10L on their inbound taxi after landing on 10R were an American Airlines Boeing 787-8 and a Delta Air Lines Airbus A330-900. Flightradar24 shows that the former of these had landed at 8:18 AM from Miami (MIA), with the latter touching down at 8:22 AM from New York (JFK).
LA8019 reportedly made its first takeoff attempt shortly afterwards, at 8:24 AM, just as these aircraft were crossing runway 10L further up the strip. It is said to have reached the relatively high speed of 129 km/h (70 knots) before finally aborting at the request of the air traffic controller. LATAM’s pilots then received a dressing-down from ATC, having started their takeoff roll despite acknowledging the cancelation.
The potentially serious nature of this incident has prompted an investigation into the matter. Indeed, reporting by Band confirms that the Brazilian Air Force has said that the relevant data is being prepared for processing by Brazil’s Aeronautical Accidents Investigation and Prevention Center (CENIPA). As detailed in our coverage below, the Tenerife Airport Disaster played out in similarly foggy conditions.
The LATAM Flight Departed Late But Made Back Some Time
Having come to a stop and given a dressing-down by ATC, the LATAM flight was then instructed to hold its position on the runway and await futher instructions. The Airbus A320 eventually taxied back off the runway, rejoined the queue of departing aircraft, and took off at the second time of asking, 46 minutes late. Despite this relatively heavy delay, it was able to make some of the time back flying west.
Indeed, while LATAM Airlines flight LA8019 has a block time of four hours, with its arrival in Mendoza timed for 12:00 PM local time, the iteration on Saturday, August 15 spent just three hours and 46 minutes in the air. This saw it touch down at 12:32 PM. The aircraft (PR-MHM) was subsequently late departing Mendoza to fly back to São Paulo, but it was back on schedule by the end of the day.
