An American Airlines pilot slammed “on the brakes” to avoid T-boning a crossing truck at Charlotte’s airport Wednesday – as video shows the commercial plane abruptly come to a stop.
Flight 1197 was traveling from the gate area to the runway ahead of takeoff when a black and white truck zipped by at Charlotte Douglas International Airport, according to audio obtained by news outlets and airport officials.
“They just went right in front of us and we nearly hit them,” the pilot told a ramp controller, according to CBS News. “I had to — I had to slam on the brakes.”
The incident involved an American Airlines plane. valeriyap – stock.adobe.comThe near-collision comes a month after an Air Canada plane smashed into an emergency truck while landing at LaGuardia Airport on March 22, killing the pilot and first officer who desperately tried to prevent the crash.
Scores of passengers suffered injuries as a federal probe is underway into the first deadly crash at LaGuardia in more than three decades.
The American Airlines pilot on Wednesday said his taxi light was on and he was starting to move the plane leading up to the near-crash.
“They need to be — someone’s gotta be notified right away,” the pilot also said, according to ABC News. “That was really bad.”
Video obtained by The Post shows two airport vehicles driving in front of the plane as the aircraft slowly moves forward perpendicular to the trucks.
The plane suddenly stops as the vehicles keep traveling.
“Ground safety procedures require vehicles yield to aircraft at all times, particularly in active ramp and alleyway environments where visibility can be limited,” an airline spokesperson told The Post.
“In this case, two vehicles associated with Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) did not yield to our aircraft taxiing from an alleyway, but our vigilant and professional crew took immediate action.”
The DC-bound flight still reportedly departed on time.
The airport said in an email officials were aware of the unnerving situation that took place at the gate area adjacent to the terminal and involved a CLT ground vehicle. An investigation is underway.
The near-hit comes a month after the deadly collision at LGA. Luiz C. Ribeiro for NY Post“Safety and security are top priorities at CLT,” the spokesperson said.
The Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement the incident happened in an area that is not under air traffic controllers’ purview.
“The FAA is investigating,” an agency spokesperson said.
