China's civil aviation regulator is investigating an incident whereby a China Eastern Airlines passenger aircraft nearly bumped into another plane during takeoff at Hongqiao airport yesterday.
The Airbus 320 Flight MU5643 to Tianjin was taking off around noon when an Airbus 330, also owned by China Eastern, began taxiing across the runway, according to the air traffic control tower at the airport.
The A320 pilot opted to continue taking off as the speed of his aircraft had reached more than 230 kilometers per hour. The A320 safely flew over the A330, an official with the tower said.
The East China Administration of Civil Aviation Administration of China has begun examining the cockpit voice recorder and flying data of both aircraft as well as talking with the pilots and the air traffic controller, the administration said.
The A320 pilot made the right decision, a civil aviation expert told Shanghai Daily.
