Bombardier CRJ700/Cessna 172, Allentown, Pa., Sept. 19, 2008–The NTSB has issued an update on the CRJ/172 runway incursion at Lehigh International Airport (see AIN, November, page 98). The Cessna 172 was cleared to land on Runway 6, where the Mesa Air Shuttle regional jet was holding short for the landing traffic. After the Cessna landed, the controller told its pilot to exit the runway at Taxiway A4, and the CRJ was cleared for takeoff. While the controller turned his attention to an inbound aircraft, issuing landing instructions, the Cessna reported that it had missed the assigned exit and asked permission to turn on taxiway B. The controller responded “no delay, turn immediately.” When the CRJ crew spotted the Cessna, it aborted the takeoff at about 120 knots, missing the Cessna by about 10 feet.

None of the 56 passengers or crew of four aboard the Mesa Air jet was injured, and neither were the Cessna pilot and two passengers. There was no damage to either aircraft. The incident occurred in night VMC.