INCIDENT Swiss Air flight cleared to takeoff from JFK while several aircraft were crossing the runway

Several flights were crossing the runway at New York JFK airport while a Swiss Air flight to Zurich was cleared to takeoff.

Wednesday, April 17 2024, Swiss Air flight SWR17K from New York to Zurich was scheduled to takeoff at 16:15 EDT but was delayed.

The Airbus A330-300 (registration HB-JHD) was cleared to takeoff at 16:45 local time from runway 4L.

But during the takeoff, American Airlines flight #AA2246, which arrived from Dallas on runway 4R, was cleared to cross the runway 4L. The Boeing 737 MAX 8 entered the runway as well a Boeing 767-400 performing flight #DL29 from Nice, France.

Pilots of the Swiss Air A330 rejected takeoff when they noticed “traffic on the runway”. The aircraft left the runway on the left to line up for a new depart.

Flight SWR17K finally took off at 17:00 local time for 7 hours and 25 minutes flight to Zurich where it landed safely Thursday, April 18 2024 by 06:25 CEST.