Incident Details
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reported that the takeoff clearance for a flight was canceled after the airport movement area safety system (AMASS) radar system detected a target at the departure end of the runway. In a written statement, the flight crew noted that they successfully aborted the takeoff and subsequently taxied the airplane to a deicing pad.
Communication with Tower
During a conversation between the captain and the tower supervisor, the supervisor indicated that the tower had initiated the abort call because of a target visible on their radar. Following the abort, the tower's radar displayed hundreds of targets, which the supervisor believed to be a computer malfunction.
Aircraft Damage
As a result of the aborted takeoff, the airplane sustained damage to its tires and brakes.
Investigation Findings
A postincident investigation determined that a dual air conditioning unit failure had occurred within the Airport Surface Detection Equipment (ASDE) equipment room. The failure caused elevated temperatures in the room, leading to the equipment malfunction.