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   NTSB ADVISORY

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National Transportation Safety Board

Washington, DC 20594

October 21, 2009

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NTSB INVESTIGATING LANDING OF COMMERCIAL JETLINER ON TAXIWAY IN ATLANTA

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The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating

the landing of a Delta B-767 on an active taxiway at Atlanta

Hartsfield International Airport (ATL).

According to preliminary information received from several

sources, on Monday, October 19, 2009, at 6:05 a.m. EDT, a

Boeing B767-332ER (N185DN) operating as Delta Air Lines

flight 60 from Rio de Janeiro to Atlanta landed on taxiway M

at ATL after being cleared to land on runway 27R. No

injuries to any of the 182 passengers or 11 crewmembers were

reported.

A check airman was on the flight deck along with the captain

and first officer. During cruise flight, the check airman

became ill and was relocated to the cabin for the remainder

of the flight. A medical emergency was declared and the

company was notified by the crew. A determination was made

to land at the scheduled destination of ATL.

The flight was cleared to land on runway 27R but instead

landed on taxiway M, which is situated immediately to the

north and parallel to runway 27R. The runway lights for 27R

were illuminated; the localizer and approach lights for 27R

were not turned on. Taxiway M was active but was clear of

aircraft and ground vehicles at the time the aircraft

landed. The wind was calm with 10 miles visibility.

Night/dark conditions prevailed; twilight conditions began

at about 7:20 a.m. EDT and the official sunrise was at 7:46

a.m. EDT.

A team of four from the NTSB, led by David Helson, is

investigating the incident.

The issue of runway safety has been on the NTSB’s Most

Wanted List of Safety Improvements since its inception in

1990. Information on the NTSB’s work on runway safety is

available at http://www.ntsb.gov/Recs/mostwanted/runways.htm

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NTSB Media Contact: Peter Knudson

peter.knudson@ntsb.gov

(202) 314-6100