JetBlue takeoff from Kennedy to Austin aborted, airline says

Two airplanes avoided colliding on a Kennedy Airport runway Saturday evening in an incident being investigated by federal aviation officials.

The Federal Aviation Administration said Sunday it is investigating the close call that occurred about 10:30 p.m. between a Caribbean Airlines flight flying from Georgetown, Guyana, and a JetBlue flight departing for Austin, Texas.

FAA officials said JetBlue Flight 1295, an Airbus A-320, was rolling down Runway 22 for takeoff when Caribbean Airlines Flight 526, a Boeing 737 traveling on Taxiway J, "taxied across" into the path of the JetBlue flight.

"Air traffic controllers immediately ordered JetBlue [Flight] 1295 to cancel its takeoff and stop," FAA spokeswoman Kathleen Bergen said in an email.

The JetBlue flight was diverted to Taxiway G and taxied back to the gate, Bergen said.

"The closest proximity of the two aircraft was more than 2,800 feet," she said.

JetBlue spokesman Rick Case said Sunday "the flight returned to the gate for standard aircraft inspection and there were no injuries reported."

After a two-hour wait, the JetBlue flight resumed to Austin.

Caribbean Airlines did not answer calls placed to its corporate communications office Sunday.