A London-bound flight from John F Kennedy International Airport was forced to abort takeoff and hit breaks mid-way on Thursday to avoid colliding with another plane on the runway, according to a report by The New York Post.
Norse Atlantic Airways Flight Z0702 was accelerating for departure when the pilots had to slam on the brakes due to what the airline described as a “potential obstruction on the runway.” According to a Norse steward, the obstruction was another plane preparing for takeoff from an intersecting runway.
FlightRadar24 data showed the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner reaching 87 knots (100 mph) before abruptly slowing down and turning left back onto the taxiway.
One passenger, Angela Blevins, said the stop was sudden but did not cause panic. “No one really screamed, except maybe a few sudden utterances because we stopped so quickly,” Angela told the New York Post. “It didn’t feel like a crash or that we were in danger.”
A Norse Atlantic flight attendant, who spoke anonymously, downplayed the situation, noting that the other plane was at the far end of the crossing runway. “JFK is very busy, you look both ways before crossing.”
In a statement, Norse Atlantic Airways called the incident minor, stressing that the safety of passengers and crew was never in jeopardy. “Our pilots are highly trained for such events,” the airline said.
The plane took off again shortly afterward, landing safely at London’s Gatwick Airport six hours later.