Watch 1999 T. F. Green Airport Runway Incursion Video

The 1999 T. F. Green Airport runway incursion occurred on December 6, 1999 at approximately 20:35 Eastern Daylight Time. The runway incursion involved two flights, a United Airlines flight 1448 (a Boeing 757) and FedEx flight 1662 (a Boeing 727) on Runway 5R/23L at T. F. Green Airport, in Warwick, Rhode Island. Shortly after landing on Runway 5R/23L, Flight 1448 was instructed to taxi to the...  MORE

The 1999 T. F. Green Airport runway incursion occurred on December 6, 1999 at approximately 20:35 Eastern Daylight Time. The runway incursion involved two flights, a United Airlines flight 1448 (a Boeing 757) and FedEx flight 1662 (a Boeing 727) on Runway 5R/23L at T. F. Green Airport, in Warwick, Rhode Island. Shortly after landing on Runway 5R/23L, Flight 1448 was instructed to taxi to the gate. Due to the low-visibility conditions that night, the pilots became disoriented and turned down the wrong taxiway, which led them back towards the same runway. Flight 1448 then confirmed with the air traffic controller that they should cross the runway in front of them, and continued moving towards Runway 5R/23L. The controller, not realising their mistake, confirmed this crossing, then cleared another plane for takeoff. Flight 1448 then reported that they were near taxiway Kilo, and as they re-entered Runway 5R/23L, said, "Somebody just took-off" (right overhead). However, the controller appeared not to take their sighting of Kilo seriously, saying, "you shouldn't be anywhere near Kilo", and advised the 1448 crew to hold position. The Flight 1448 crew then informed air traffic control LESS