- A LATAM Airbus A320 aborted its takeoff at São Paulo/Guarulhos Airport after air traffic control withdrew its clearance.
- Two widebody jets from American and Delta were crossing the same runway during heavy fog conditions.
- Investigators are reviewing cockpit communications to understand why the takeoff roll started after the initial cancellation.
A LATAM A320 began its takeoff roll at São Paulo/Guarulhos Airport on Saturday after air traffic control withdrew its clearance, while an American Airlines Boeing 787-8 and a Delta Air Lines Airbus A330-900 crossed the same runway in fog.
The incident occurred on runway 10L at about 08:24 AM local time on August 15, 2026. The LATAM flight, LA8019, was bound for Mendoza, Argentina.
The pilots stopped the aircraft after it reached about 129 km/h (70 knots). No one aboard any of the three aircraft suffered reported injuries.
A controller repeated the warning over the radio.
“8019, cancel takeoff clearance! I repeat, cancel takeoff clearance!”
The LATAM aircraft then left the runway and later returned to the departure queue. It departed at 08:46 AM, 46 minutes late, and reached Mendoza at 12:32 PM local time.
The two widebody jets had arrived on runway 10R. The American aircraft landed at 08:18 AM after flying from Miami, while the Delta aircraft arrived from New York at 08:22 AM. Both were cleared to cross runway 10L and continue toward their gates.
Fog compressed the margin for error on runway 10L
Heavy fog restricted visibility across the airport during the event. METAR data also indicated restricted visibility at the time.
Air traffic control initially cleared LA8019 for departure, then canceled that authorization to accommodate the arriving aircraft crossing the runway. The crew acknowledged the cancellation before starting the takeoff roll, according to the incident account.
The controller issued a second stop instruction as the aircraft accelerated. The pilots applied the brakes forcefully while the two arriving jets remained on, or were crossing, the runway path.
The event has been described as a serious runway incursion. Brazilian aviation authorities are examining the communication breakdown between the cockpit and the tower.
The Brazilian Air Force said incident data was being prepared for processing by the Aeronautical Accidents Investigation and Prevention Center, known as CENIPA. ANAC and CENIPA had launched a formal investigation by August 17.
Investigators will reconstruct the canceled clearance and braking sequence
The inquiry is expected to examine three areas:
- Cockpit communications: Investigators will review the cockpit voice recorder to determine why the crew initiated the roll after acknowledging the cancellation.
- Low-visibility operations: Authorities will assess whether Guarulhos’ surface movement guidance systems were fully operational during the fog.
- Tower procedures: The review will consider when the clearance was revoked and how quickly the emergency stop instruction followed.
Lieutenant Colonel Paulo Fróes, a CENIPA investigator, has previously stressed the importance of communication procedures when visibility deteriorates at Brazil’s busiest airports. The current investigation will establish how the instructions were transmitted and understood during this departure.
Passengers on LA8019 reported a sudden, forceful braking maneuver. The aircraft sustained no reported injuries among its occupants, and the other two flights also had no reported injuries.
The aircraft involved reached the runway at different points
| Aircraft | Flight or route | Runway movement | Recorded detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| LATAM Airbus A320-200, registration PR-MHM | LA8019, Guarulhos to Mendoza | Began takeoff on 10L, then aborted | About 129 km/h (70 knots) before stopping |
| American Airlines Boeing 787-8 | Miami to Guarulhos | Landed on 10R, then crossed 10L | Arrived at 08:18 AM |
| Delta Air Lines Airbus A330-900 | New York to Guarulhos | Landed on 10R, then crossed 10L | Arrived at 08:22 AM |
The sequence unfolded during a busy morning for U.S. arrivals. The two international widebodies needed to reach their gates after landing, while LA8019 was preparing to leave for Argentina.
LATAM confirmed that the pilots stopped the takeoff after an air traffic control request. The airline said the action was safe and that it remained in contact with authorities.
“The aircraft that carried out flight LA8019 interrupted its takeoff after a request from air traffic control. The procedure was carried out safely. The company clarifies that it is in contact with the authorities.”
The controller’s second intervention has been identified as the action that prevented the situation from developing into a collision. Aviation observers compared the fog, runway conflict and takeoff-without-clearance scenario with the Tenerife Airport Disaster, while the investigation continues to establish the precise chain of events.
CENIPA’s next work will center on the recorded cockpit and tower communications, the runway’s visibility aids and the timing of the canceled clearance. Those findings will determine how the event is classified and whether Guarulhos procedures require changes.
