JetBlue Pilot's Quick Maneuver Prevents Runway Collision Amid Rising Close Calls

The incident, caused by unclear communication, resulted in substantial damage to the plane and highlights an alarming trend of near-misses exacerbated by air traffic controller shortages.

A JetBlue pilot's quick maneuver prevented two planes from colliding on a runway in Colorado.
Unclear communication between the planes and the air traffic control center led to one plane taking off and one coming in to land at around the same time.
The pilot of the JetBlue Airbus A320 increased the thrust during take-off to avoid the incoming plane, causing its tail to strike the runway's surface and resulting in substantial damage.
There have been an alarming number of potentially dangerous close calls between aircraft happening on average weekly, according to the Federal Aviation Authority.
The risks are exacerbated by a shortage of air traffic controllers creating an exhausted workforce prone to making mistakes.