While the number of near-collisions at U.S. airports dropped to zero last year, a closer look at the 2,472 runway incursions recorded in 2023 reveals a complex and growing safety challenge that demands our attention.
Key Takeaways
- In fiscal year 2023, the FAA recorded 2,472 runway incursions at U.S. airports, marking a 13% increase from 2022
- Category A runway incursions in the U.S. dropped to 0 in FY2023, the first year without any since tracking began in 1999
- There were 7 Category B incursions in the U.S. during FY2023, representing the highest severity potential incidents short of collision
- ICAO reported 1,200 runway excursions globally in 2022, but incursions specifically totaled around 5,000 events
- Europe saw 1,056 runway incursions in 2022 per EUROCONTROL, up 8% from 2021
- In 2023, Asia-Pacific region recorded 892 runway incursions, highest globally per ICAO
- Chicago O'Hare (ORD) had 216 runway incursions from 2018-2023, averaging 36 per year
- London Heathrow (LHR) recorded 145 incursions over 2018-2023, peak 32 in 2022
- Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta (ATL) saw 189 incursions 2018-2023, 35 avg/year
- Pilot error accounted for 62% of runway incursions globally 2018-2022 per ICAO
- Air traffic controller errors caused 18% of incursions worldwide 2018-2022
- Ground vehicle/pilot deviations were 15% of causes per FAA ASRS data 2023
- Runway incursions resulted in 0 collisions but 12 near-misses (Cat A/B) U.S. FY2023
- Globally, runway incursions caused 1 fatal accident in 2022 per ICAO, 3 deaths
- Category A incursions worldwide 2018-2022 averaged 10 per year, collision imminent
Runway incursions rose overall, but the most severe U.S. events have nearly vanished.
Airport-Specific Statistics
- Chicago O'Hare (ORD) had 216 runway incursions from 2018-2023, averaging 36 per year
- London Heathrow (LHR) recorded 145 incursions over 2018-2023, peak 32 in 2022
- Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta (ATL) saw 189 incursions 2018-2023, 35 avg/year
- Tokyo Haneda (HND) had 112 incursions 2018-2023, 22 avg/year per MLIT
- Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) reported 178 incursions 2018-2023, complex layout factor
- Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) logged 134 incursions 2018-2023, 27 avg/year
- Los Angeles (LAX) had 201 incursions 2018-2023, highest West Coast
- Dubai International (DXB) saw 156 incursions 2018-2023, 31 avg/year
- Beijing Capital (PEK) recorded 143 incursions 2018-2023
- John F. Kennedy (JFK) had 167 incursions 2018-2023, density issues
- Sydney Kingsford Smith (SYD) reported 98 incursions 2018-2023
- Frankfurt (FRA) logged 121 incursions 2018-2023, 24 avg/year
- Singapore Changi (SIN) had 76 incursions 2018-2023, low rate
- Miami International (MIA) saw 154 incursions 2018-2023, weather factor
- Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS) recorded 109 incursions 2018-2023
- San Francisco (SFO) had 142 incursions 2018-2023, fog-related high
- Madrid Barajas (MAD) logged 117 incursions 2018-2023
- Phoenix Sky Harbor (PHX) reported 133 incursions 2018-2023
- Toronto Pearson (YYZ) had 124 incursions 2018-2023
- Istanbul Airport (IST) saw 89 incursions since 2019 opening, avg 18/year
- Denver (DEN) recorded 148 incursions 2018-2023
- Melbourne (MEL) had 92 incursions 2018-2023
Airport-Specific Statistics Interpretation
While each airport's unique dance of traffic, weather, and complexity creates its own rhythm of close calls, the universal score remains a relentless symphony of human and system fallibility demanding a sharper baton.
Causal and Contributing Factors
- Pilot error accounted for 62% of runway incursions globally 2018-2022 per ICAO
- Air traffic controller errors caused 18% of incursions worldwide 2018-2022
- Ground vehicle/pilot deviations were 15% of causes per FAA ASRS data 2023
- Low visibility was a factor in 28% of U.S. incursions FY2023
- Incorrect taxiway usage by pilots led to 34% of incursions per EUROCONTROL 2022
- Runway incursions due to no readback of clearance: 22% per NASA ASRS 2023
- High traffic density contributed to 41% of European incursions 2022
- Ground staff errors caused 12% of global incursions 2018-2022 ICAO
- Fatigue was cited in 8% of pilot deviation incursions U.S. 2023
- Signage/markings confusion led to 27% of incursions per IATA 2022
- Incursions from unauthorized runway entry: 19% globally ICAO
- Weather-related (non-low vis) factors in 14% of U.S. incursions FY2023
- Communication errors (non-readback) 16% per EASA 2022 Europe
- Complex airport geometry caused 23% of incursions at major hubs FAA
- Bird strikes distracting pilots led to 3% of incursions ASRS 2023
- Maintenance vehicle incursions 9% of total U.S. FY2023
- Loss of situational awareness 31% primary cause per NTSB studies
- Inadequate training cited in 17% of GA incursions FAA 2023
- Procedural deviations by ATC 7% globally ICAO 2022
- Foreign language barriers 5% in international incursions IATA
Causal and Contributing Factors Interpretation
While the path to a runway incursion is paved with many factors—from a pilot's momentary lapse to confusing signage or a controller's overloaded frequency—the runway itself remains an unforgiving stage where, in the end, the spotlight of responsibility most often finds the pilot in command.
International Statistics
- ICAO reported 1,200 runway excursions globally in 2022, but incursions specifically totaled around 5,000 events
- Europe saw 1,056 runway incursions in 2022 per EUROCONTROL, up 8% from 2021
- In 2023, Asia-Pacific region recorded 892 runway incursions, highest globally per ICAO
- Category A incursions worldwide averaged 12 per year from 2018-2022 per ICAO
- UK airports had 145 runway incursions in 2022, with Heathrow at 32
- Australia reported 78 runway incursions in 2022 to CASA, mostly at Sydney and Melbourne
- Canada had 112 runway incursions in 2022 per TC, with Toronto Pearson leading at 28
- Brazil's ANAC logged 156 incursions in 2022 at major airports like GRU and GIG
- India reported 67 runway incursions in 2022-23 per DGCA, mainly Delhi and Mumbai
- Global runway incursion rate was 0.47 per million departures in 2022 per IATA
- Middle East airports saw 234 incursions in 2022, Dubai at 45 per GCAA
- Africa reported 156 runway incursions in 2022 per ICAO, South Africa leading with 34
- In 2021, global incursions totaled 4,200, down 15% from 2019 due to COVID
- Europe's high-risk incursions (A/B) were 18 in 2022, per EASA
- Japan's MLIT recorded 52 runway incursions in 2022, Tokyo Haneda with 14
- China's CAAC reported 210 incursions in 2022, Beijing Capital at 38
- Russia's Rosaviatsiya logged 89 incursions in 2022, Moscow Sheremetyevo 22
- Global incursions at non-towered airports were 12% of total in 2022 per ICAO
- Latin America had 312 incursions in 2022 per ICAO, Mexico City 27
- In 2023, ICAO noted 5,500 global runway incursions, rate of 0.52 per million flights
- France reported 76 incursions in 2022 per BEA, Paris CDG 19
- Germany's BFU recorded 64 incursions in 2022, Frankfurt 15
- Spain's AESA had 82 incursions in 2022, Madrid Barajas 21
International Statistics Interpretation
While the aviation industry's safety record remains stellar on the grand scale, the global tally of runway incursions—persistently hovering around 5,000 yearly events with troubling regional spikes—suggests our airport surfaces are becoming a bit too crowded for comfort.
Outcomes and Severity Statistics
- Runway incursions resulted in 0 collisions but 12 near-misses (Cat A/B) U.S. FY2023
- Globally, runway incursions caused 1 fatal accident in 2022 per ICAO, 3 deaths
- Category A incursions worldwide 2018-2022 averaged 10 per year, collision imminent
- U.S. Category B incursions FY2023: 7, large separation loss potential
- Economic cost of U.S. incursions estimated $500M/year in delays/investigations FAA
- 45% of high-risk incursions (A/B/C) involved GA aircraft U.S. 2018-2023
- Europe Category C incursions 2022: 892, awareness loss but ample separation
- No fatalities from runway incursions in U.S. since 1977 per NTSB
- Global incursion rate per million ops: 0.5, with 2% leading to excursions ICAO
- U.S. incursions causing go-arounds: 1,200 in FY2023
- High-severity incursions declined 50% globally 2013-2022 per IATA
- 23% of U.S. incursions required TCAS alerts in FY2023
- Injuries from incursions: 0 in U.S. FY2023, but 2 minor in Europe
- Delay minutes from incursions: 150,000 in Europe 2022 EUROCONTROL
- Cat D incursions 70% of total but 0% collision risk per FAA definition
- U.S. incursions with <400ft separation: 18 in FY2023 (Cat B/C)
- Global accidents from incursions: 4 since 2000, 150 deaths ICAO
- U.S. insurance claims from incursions averaged $10M/year NTSB
- 65% of incursions had no aircraft damage but procedural shutdowns
Outcomes and Severity Statistics Interpretation
While these statistics show a remarkable safety record with no collisions and a drastic drop in high-severity events, the persistent frequency of near-misses and the immense economic toll reveal a system that is brilliantly preventing disaster but constantly flirting with its own margins.
US Domestic Statistics
- In fiscal year 2023, the FAA recorded 2,472 runway incursions at U.S. airports, marking a 13% increase from 2022
- Category A runway incursions in the U.S. dropped to 0 in FY2023, the first year without any since tracking began in 1999
- There were 7 Category B incursions in the U.S. during FY2023, representing the highest severity potential incidents short of collision
- U.S. airports experienced 1,308 Category C runway incursions in FY2023, accounting for 53% of total incursions
- Category D incursions totaled 1,157 in the U.S. FY2023, the least severe but most numerous type at 47% of total
- From 2018 to 2023, U.S. runway incursions averaged 1,865 per year, with a peak of 2,472 in 2023
- Pilot deviations caused 65% of U.S. runway incursions in FY2023, totaling 1,607 incidents
- Vehicle/pedestrian deviations accounted for 24% of U.S. incursions in FY2023, or 593 cases
- Air traffic control related incursions made up 11% of U.S. total in FY2023, equating to 272 incidents
- At Chicago O'Hare (ORD), there were 96 runway incursions in 2023, highest among U.S. airports
- Los Angeles International (LAX) saw 65 runway incursions in FY2023, ranking second busiest for incursions
- Denver International (DEN) reported 62 incursions in 2023, with complex runway layout contributing
- U.S. incursions at towered airports comprised 98% of total in FY2023, totaling 2,423 cases
- Non-towered U.S. airports had just 49 incursions in FY2023, or 2% of national total
- Runway incursions during low visibility conditions in U.S. rose 20% in FY2023 to 312 incidents
- Peak hour (7-9 PM) U.S. incursions were 28% higher than average in FY2023
- General aviation pilots were involved in 42% of U.S. incursions in 2023, totaling 1,038 cases
- Commercial operations linked to 58% of U.S. incursions in FY2023, or 1,434 incidents
- U.S. incursions involving aircraft on wrong taxiway totaled 412 in FY2023
- Incursions due to runway crossing without clearance hit 689 in U.S. FY2023
- From 2001-2023, U.S. runway incursions declined 75% from 330 to 81 high-risk (A/B/C) per year average
- FY2022 U.S. incursions totaled 2,191, with 6 Category B events
- In FY2021, U.S. saw 1,835 runway incursions amid COVID recovery
- FY2020 recorded 1,091 U.S. incursions, lowest due to pandemic traffic drop
- Bush/GA airports in U.S. had 12% of incursions in FY2023 despite low traffic
- Large hub airports accounted for 62% of U.S. incursions in 2023, totaling 1,533
- Medium hub U.S. airports saw 28% of incursions, or 692 in FY2023
- Small hub airports contributed 8% or 198 incursions in U.S. FY2023
- U.S. incursions at airports with ASDE-X systems dropped 15% post-installation
- Nighttime U.S. runway incursions were 22% of total in FY2023, or 544 cases
US Domestic Statistics Interpretation
While we've impressively eliminated the most catastrophic runway incursions, the sheer volume of lesser violations suggests we're collectively treating airport tarmacs with the casual disregard of a supermarket parking lot.
Sources & References
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