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Air Canada 759 Near Miss Taxiway Overflight San Francisco_2018-12-05_transcript_2.md
Air Canada 759 nearly lands on a taxiway occupied by four aircraft at San Francisco.
Summary
Air Canada Flight 759 mistakenly lined up for Taxiway C instead of Runway 28R at San Francisco International Airport. The aircraft narrowly avoided a catastrophic collision with four fully-loaded planes waiting for takeoff before performing a last-second go-around. This recording captures the confusion, the alert from a pilot on the ground, and the eventual safe landing.
Analysis
This incident is widely considered one of the closest calls in aviation history. On the night of July 7, 2017, Air Canada 759 (an Airbus A320) was cleared for a visual approach to Runway 28R. However, the pilots misidentified the runway environment. Because the adjacent Runway 28L was closed and dark, they perceived Taxiway C—which was occupied by four aircraft—as Runway 28R, and Runway 28R as Runway 28L.
The recording captures the pilot’s growing confusion as they notice "lights on the runway" (actually the planes on the taxiway). The Tower controller, not seeing the alignment issue on his radar at that moment, reassured the pilot that the runway was clear. The disaster was averted by the situational awareness of pilots on the ground. A voice, later identified as a pilot from United 1, is heard urgently exclaiming, "Where's this guy going? He's on the taxiway!"
Air Canada 759 initiated a go-around just as the Tower controller also realized the error and commanded the maneuver. Investigation later revealed that the Air Canada jet flew as low as 60 feet above the ground, passing within 10 to 20 feet of the tails of the aircraft on the taxiway. If the go-around had been delayed by just a few more seconds, it likely would have resulted in the deadliest aviation accident in history.
The second half of the transcript shows the professional recovery as NorCal Approach vectors the flight back for a successful second landing. The recording concludes with the Air Canada captain asking for a phone number to call the tower, a standard procedure following a significant safety event to begin the reporting process. This event led to major changes in SFO's nighttime lighting procedures and arrival requirements.
Full Transcript
ATC
Air Canada 759, turn right heading 180. Descend and maintain 8,000.
AIR CANADA 759
Right 180, down to 8,000, Air Canada 759.
ATC
Air Canada 759, turn right direct to TERDO. Join the FMS approach for 28 Right.
AIR CANADA 759
Right direct TERDO, and FMS 28 Right, Air Canada 759.
ATC
Air Canada 759, when able, report San Francisco Airport or Bridge in sight.
AIR CANADA 759
We've got the bridge in sight, Air Canada 759.
ATC
Air Canada 759, cleared FMS Bridge Visual runway 28 Right approach. Reduce speed to 160.
AIR CANADA 759
Reduce to 160, cleared FMS Bridge Visual for 28 Right, Air Canada 759.
ATC
United 1413, contact San Francisco Tower, 120.5. Good night.
PILOT
All right, 20.5. So long, United 1413.
ATC
Delta 521, reduce speed to 160.
PILOT
Slow to 160, Delta 521.
ATC
American 2647, NorCal Approach, good evening. At ARCHI, join the routing only for the FMS Bridge Visual 28 Right. American 2647, affirmative, at ARCHI join the routing.
PILOT
At ARCHI, join the routing for the quiet RNAV 28 Right visual, American 2647.
ATC
Delta 521, contact San Francisco Tower, 120.5. Good day. Delta 521, Tower 120.5, good night.
PILOT
Delta 521, 120.5. Good night.
ATC
Alaska 884, contact NorCal Approach, 125.35. Good day.
PILOT
Contact 35, good night, Alaska 884.
ATC
United 1742 heavy, NorCal Approach. At ARCHI, join the routing only for the FMS Bridge Visual 28 Right. Air Canada 759, contact San Francisco Tower, 120.5. Good day.
AIR CANADA 759
Over to Tower, Air Canada 759.
ATC
Affirmative, good night.
AIR CANADA 759
SFO Tower, good evening. Air Canada 759 with you, FMS Bridge Visual 28 Right.
TOWER
Air Canada 759, San Francisco Tower, runway 28 Right, cleared to land. Wind 270 at 8.
AIR CANADA 759
Cleared to land 28 Right, Air Canada 759.
TOWER
United 1413, runway 1 Left, cleared for takeoff.
PILOT
Cleared for takeoff, United 1413.
TOWER
United 1775, San Francisco Tower, 1 Left, line up and wait.
PILOT
United 1775, 1 Left, line up and wait.
TOWER
United 1413, contact NorCal Departure. Good night.
PILOT
Contacting United 1413.
TOWER
United 1775, wind 270 at 9, runway 1 Left, cleared for takeoff.
PILOT
United 1775, cleared for takeoff 1 Left.
TOWER
Delta 412, San Francisco Tower, 1 Left, line up and wait.
PILOT
Line up and wait 1 Left, Delta 412.
TOWER
Delta 521, cross 28 Left, give way to Virgin America under tow off your left, and then Alpha. What's your gate? Delta 521, cross 28 Left, give way to Virgin under tow off your left, and then Alpha. What's your gate?
PILOT
Looking, Delta 521. We're going to gate 42. We're cleared to cross 28 Left, and we'll give way to the Virgin tow.
TOWER
United 1775, contact NorCal Departure. Good night.
PILOT
1775, good day.
AIR CANADA 759
And Tower, just want to confirm—this is Air Canada 759—we see some lights on the runway there, across the runway. Can you confirm cleared to land?
TOWER
Air Canada 759, confirmed cleared to land runway 28 Right. There is no one on 28 Right but you.
AIR CANADA 759
Okay, Air Canada 759.
PILOT
Where's this guy going? He's on the taxiway!
AIR CANADA 759
Air Canada go around.
TOWER
In the go around, Air Canada 759.
TOWER
Air Canada 759, looks like you were lined up for Charlie there. Fly heading 280, climb and maintain 3,000.
AIR CANADA 759
Heading 280, 3,000, Air Canada 759.
PILOT
Tower, Delta 521. Do you want us to switch to Ground or stay with you? Delta 521, it's just me.
TOWER
Okay, sir. Where do you want to go from there? Okay, take Alpha from there and just hold behind the American.
PILOT
Okay, Alpha behind the American, Delta 521. Thanks.
TOWER
Air Canada 759, contact NorCal 135.1. We'll see you in a couple minutes.
UNITED 1 PILOT
United 1, Air Canada flew directly over us.
TOWER
Yeah, I saw that. Air Canada 759, contact NorCal 135.1. We'll catch you in a couple minutes.
AIR CANADA 759
135.1, Air Canada 759.
TOWER
United 1, we're going to get you going here in just a second.
UNITED 1 PILOT
We're ready.
AIR CANADA 759
NorCal, Air Canada 759. 2,500 for 3,000 in the go-around.
ATC
Air Canada 759, NorCal Departure, radar contact. Climb and maintain 5,000.
AIR CANADA 759
Climb and maintain 5,000, Air Canada 759.
ATC
Air Canada 759, what was the reason for the go-around?
AIR CANADA 759
Uh, we were lined up for the runway.
ATC
Air Canada 759, turn left heading 120.
AIR CANADA 759
Left heading 120, Air Canada 759.
ATC
United 995 heavy, contact Oakland Center, 119.75.
PILOT
119.75, United 995.
ATC
United 1, contact NorCal. Have a good flight. United 1, 1,400 for 3,000.
PILOT
United 1 heavy, NorCal Departure, radar contact. Climb and maintain flight level 190.
ATC
Climb and maintain 190, United 1. Air Canada 759, heading 110.
AIR CANADA 759
110, Air Canada 759.
PILOT
Departure, Delta 1863. Passing 1.7 for ARCHI.
ATC
Delta 1863, NorCal Departure, radar contact. Delta 2348, contact Oakland Center, 119.75.
PILOT
119.75, Delta 2348. Thank you.
ATC
Air Canada 759, heading 100.
AIR CANADA 759
Heading 100, Air Canada 759.
ATC
Air Canada 759, contact NorCal 133.95.
AIR CANADA 759
Air Canada 759. NorCal, Air Canada 759, 5,000.
ATC
Who's on the landline? Air Canada 759, 5,000. Air Canada 759, NorCal Approach, expect Bridge Visual runway 28 Right.
AIR CANADA 759
Visual 28 Right, Air Canada 759.
ATC
Southwest 351, depart SEEDS, heading 290.
PILOT
290 heading out of SEEDS, Southwest 351.
ATC
FedEx 1800 heavy, turn left heading 040. Descend and maintain 4,000.
PILOT
Left 040, down to 4,000, FedEx 1800 heavy.
ATC
Southwest 3512, NorCal Approach. San Jose information Bravo weather current.
PILOT
That's what we've got, Southwest 3512.
ATC
American 2647, 180 knots or better. Contact San Francisco Tower, 120.5. Good day.
PILOT
120.5 and 180 or better, American 2647. Good night.
ATC
American 1925, turn left heading 140.
PILOT
140 on the heading now, American 1925.
ATC
United 1742 heavy, reduce speed to 210.
PILOT
Down to 210, United 1742.
ATC
Southwest 351, descend and maintain 10,000.
PILOT
Descend and maintain 10,000, Southwest 351.
PILOT
NorCal, Alaska 840. Out of 6,000, descending to 10,000 at Sierra.
ATC
Alaska 840, NorCal Approach. Depart Woodside heading 060, vectors for Oakland.
PILOT
Depart Woodside heading 060, Alaska 840.
ATC
FedEx 1800 heavy, turn left heading 010.
PILOT
Left to 010, FedEx 1800 heavy.
ATC
Air Canada 759, reduce speed to 180.
AIR CANADA 759
Slow to 180, Air Canada 759.
ATC
FedEx 1800 heavy, contact NorCal Approach, 125.35. Good day.
PILOT
125.35, FedEx 1800 heavy. Good night.
ATC
American 1925, descend and maintain 8,000.
PILOT
Down to 8,000, American 1925.
ATC
Southwest 351, descend and maintain 9,000.
PILOT
Maintain 9,000, Southwest 351.
ATC
Alaska 840, descend and maintain 8,000.
PILOT
8,000, Alaska 840.
ATC
American 1925, turn right heading 180, expect direct TERDO.
PILOT
Right to 180, will expect, American 1925.
ATC
Southwest 351, turn left heading 160.
PILOT
Left turn 160, Southwest 351.
ATC
Air Canada 759, turn left heading 060.
AIR CANADA 759
Left turn 060, Air Canada 759.
ATC
United 1742 heavy, contact San Francisco Tower, 120.5. Good day.
PILOT
120.5, United 1742. Good day.
ATC
Air Canada 759, descend and maintain 4,000.
AIR CANADA 759
4,000, Air Canada 759.
ATC
American 1925, turn right 260. When able, direct TERDO, and intercept the FMS Bridge Visual 28 Right.
PILOT
Okay, right turn direct TERDO, and intercept the course for 28 Right for American 1925.
ATC
Air Canada 759, turn left heading 010. Descend and maintain 3,000.
AIR CANADA 759
010, down to 3,000, Air Canada 759.
ATC
American 1925, advise when you get the Bridge or Airport in sight.
PILOT
Bridge and Airport in sight, American 1925.
ATC
American 1925, thank you. Cleared FMS Bridge Visual 28 Right approach.
PILOT
Cleared for the FMS Bridge Visual approach, 28 Right approach for American 1925.
ATC
Southwest 351, turn right heading 180, expect direct TERDO.
PILOT
Right turn 180, expect that, Southwest 351.
ATC
Alaska 826, descend and maintain 8,000.
PILOT
Alaska 826, down to 8,000 now.
ATC
Air Canada 759, traffic you're following, 10 o'clock, 6 miles westbound, 1,500, heavy triple seven. Report it or the airport in sight.
AIR CANADA 759
Field in sight, Air Canada 759.
ATC
Air Canada 759, turn left heading 310 to join. Cleared visual approach 28 Right.
AIR CANADA 759
310 to join, cleared visual 28 Right, Air Canada 759.
ATC
Alaska 826, depart Woodside heading 060, vectors for Oakland.
PILOT
After Woodside, 060 on the heading, Alaska 826.
ATC
Southwest 351, turn right heading 250. When able, direct TERDO, intercept the FMS Bridge Visual 28 Right.
PILOT
Direct TERDO, intercept the FMS Bridge Visual 28 Right, Southwest 351.
ATC
Southwest 3512, descend and maintain 11,000.
PILOT
Down to 11,000, Southwest 3512.
ATC
Air Canada 759, reduce speed to 160. Caution wake turbulence for the heavy triple seven ahead.
AIR CANADA 759
160, Air Canada 759.
ATC
American 1925, reduce speed to 180.
PILOT
Back to 180, American 1925.
ATC
Southwest 351, advise Bridge or Airport in sight. Reduce speed to 180.
PILOT
Slow to 180, Southwest 351.
ATC
Southwest 351, descend and maintain 6,000.
PILOT
Down to 6,000, Southwest 351. We have the airport in sight.
ATC
Southwest 351, thank you. Cleared FMS Bridge Visual 28 Right approach.
PILOT
Cleared FMS Bridge Visual 28 Right, Southwest 351.
ATC
Air Canada 759, contact San Francisco Tower, 120.5. Good day.
AIR CANADA 759
120.5, Air Canada 759. SFO Tower, good day. Air Canada 759, 28 Right.
TOWER
Air Canada 759, San Francisco Tower, runway 28 Right, cleared to land. Wind 280 at 9.
AIR CANADA 759
Cleared to land, Air Canada 28—correction, 759.
TOWER
American 1522, contact NorCal.
PILOT
American 1522, good day.
TOWER
United 863 heavy, traffic 7 mile final runway 28 Right. Line up and wait.
PILOT
28 Right, line up and wait, United 863 heavy.
TOWER
Sun Country 398, runway 1 Left, cleared for takeoff.
PILOT
1 Left, cleared for takeoff, Sun Country 398.
TOWER
San Francisco Tower, American 1925 is with you, FMS Bridge Visual 28 Right.
TOWER
American 1925, San Francisco Tower, runway 28 Right, cleared to land.
PILOT
28 Right, cleared to land, American 1925.
TOWER
United 863 heavy, traffic will hold on 1 Left. Runway 28 Right, cleared for takeoff.
PILOT
28 Right, cleared for takeoff, United 863 heavy.
TOWER
United 1853, runway 1 Left, line up and wait.
PILOT
Line up and wait 1 Left, United 1853.
TOWER
Can Jet 7658 heavy, cross 1 Left, cross 1 Right.
PILOT
Cross 1 Left and 1 Right, Can Jet 7658 heavy.
TOWER
Sun Country 398, contact NorCal Departure.
PILOT
Departure, Sun Country 398.
TOWER
United 550 Tango Hotel, if you'd like 28 Right I can take you full length. Runway 28 Right, taxi via Charlie, hold short runway 1 Left. United 1910, runway 1 Left, Alpha Fox One Bravo.
PILOT
Alpha Fox One Bravo, United 1910.
TOWER
United 863 heavy, contact NorCal Departure.
PILOT
Over to Departure, United 863, good night.
TOWER
San Francisco Tower, Southwest 351, we're on the FMS Bridge Visual 28 Right.
TOWER
Southwest 351, San Francisco Tower, runway 28 Right, cleared to land. Wind 280 at 9.
PILOT
Cleared to land 28 Right, Southwest 351.
TOWER
Air Canada 759, via Tango, cross 28 Left, taxi via Bravo to the ramp.
AIR CANADA 759
Tango cross 28 Left, Bravo to the ramp, Air Canada 759.
AIR CANADA 759
And Ground, Air Canada 759 with you on Bravo.
TOWER
It's just me in the Tower.
AIR CANADA 759
Roger.
TOWER
San Francisco information Romeo now current. Wind 280 at 10, altimeter 29.92. Southwest 351, cross 28 Left, taxi via Alpha to the ramp.
PILOT
Cross 28 Left, Alpha to the ramp, Southwest 351.
AIR CANADA 759
San Francisco, Air Canada 759.
TOWER
759, Ground.
AIR CANADA 759
Yes sir, wondered if you had a phone number we can reach you at? The captain would like to give you a call.
TOWER
Sure. You guys ready to copy?
AIR CANADA 759
Yeah, go ahead.
TOWER
650-[redacted phone number].
AIR CANADA 759
650-[redacted phone number]. You got it.
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