1776Reporting
Flying an airplane is no easy task. It demands precision, concentration, and years of training. A single misstep can lead to disastrous consequences, making headlines around the world. This was nearly the case with an American Airlines flight that was recently departing from Honolulu.
The Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) stepped in to prevent a potential disaster. The flight, American Airlines Flight 298, was on its way to Los Angeles. The plane had taken off from the rarely used 8L runway at Honolulu International Airport. However, instead of following the standard procedure and making an immediate right turn, the crew continued straight ahead, heading toward the mountains surrounding the airport.
In a critical moment, the air traffic controller quickly intervened, instructing the crew to climb rapidly to avoid the mountains. According to the FAA, this move ensured that the flight avoided disaster.
However, American Airlines has a different version of events. In an official statement, the airline told CNN that there were no issues with terrain clearance. They emphasized that had there been a risk, the flight’s Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System (EGPWS) would have sounded an alert. The EGPWS did not go off, suggesting there was no danger. Flightradar24 ADS-B data supports this claim, showing the flight had already cleared the terrain by the time air traffic control gave the climb instruction.
The flight ultimately landed safely in Los Angeles, five hours after takeoff, as scheduled. But the fear that must have gripped passengers is unimaginable. One passenger described the experience, saying that when the flight was over the mountains, it was clear that the crew was pushing the plane to its limits to avoid danger. It was an eerie feeling, reminiscent of the tense moments in the movie Flight with Denzel Washington. But this wasn’t Hollywood—it was real life, and the stakes were high.
When you board a plane, you hope for a routine, uneventful flight. When things go wrong, passengers often look for someone to blame. Social media has been abuzz with criticism of the crew. One user commented, “Departing 8L is rare, and the flight plan does require an immediate right turn to avoid terrain. So, it’s clearly a mistake on the crew’s part.”
first opinion:
"Departing 8L is fairly rare, yes the SID does call for an immediate right turn to avoid terrain
So obviously a mistake on the crews part
Can’t speak to how close the terrain was but if the controller is giving them a turn to avoid it I can imagine a GPWS…— JonNYC (@xJonNYC) November 14, 2024
The FAA has stated that it will conduct a full investigation into the incident. While American Airlines has claimed that safety is their top priority, they’ve yet to fully address the specifics of the crew’s actions. If the crew made an error, putting passengers’ lives at risk, those responsible need to be held accountable.
American Airlines, for its part, has said it will continue to prioritize passenger safety. We can only hope that the airline conducts an internal review and provides a transparent explanation about why the crew ignored the standard procedure, which could have led to a dangerous collision with the mountains.
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