CRJ900 flight crew reported a Critical Ground Conflict on final approach which was followed by an airborne conflict due to an task saturated Tower Controller.
Synopsis
CRJ900 flight crew reported a Critical Ground Conflict on final approach which was followed by an airborne conflict due to an task saturated Tower Controller.
Narrative
We were cleared for the visual approach to Runway XX; and told to contact Tower. We called Tower; and they said Aircraft X; continue; aircraft on runway is position and hold. As we got closer; there was lots of chatter on frequency; but we were not cleared to land. We could see a plane on runway and tried to get clearance; but lots of chatter. Tower cleared aircraft for take-off; and cleared us to land; as we were on short final. There was no way the departing aircraft could be off runway in time; so we went missed approach. My First Officer (FO) reported to Tower we were going missed; and Tower told us 'Climb 4000 and turn right heading 270; no! LEFT LEFT heading 270!' Which we did. As we did our missed approach; we got a TA from right; and it turned into an RA. Tower said Aircraft X; turn right; NO! LEFT to a heading'. (I don't remember exactly which heading; we were busy responding to RA; which my FO reported to them) Tower handed us over to ZZZ Departure; who turned us to the northwest. I asked how long this vector would be; they said not long. I said to them: 'That was a total catastrophe back there!' Where they replied; 'I agree'. ZZZ got us back on to the visual approach for XX again and handed us over to Tower. I was surprised to hear the same Controller! They cleared us to land; and we landed without further incident.
Second reporter narrative
We were cleared for the visual approach to Runway XX at ZZZ by Approach on about a 3 mile final and told to contact Tower. After switching to Tower the Controller said 'Aircraft X continue for Runway XX; traffic holding in position.' We read back the clearance and continued. It seemed to be a busy airspace at the time as there was traffic on both runways. Around 1500 ft. AGL I contacted Tower asking if we were cleared to land and received no response. I tried again at 1000 ft. AGL; again no response. At a 2 mile final I asked a 3rd time if we were cleared to land and they answered in the affirmative then immediately after cleared an aircraft for take-off. I contacted AGAIN confirming we were cleared to land; as they just cleared someone for take-off and they again answered in the affirmative. We were approximately 600 ft. AGL at this point and the aircraft on the ground was just starting their roll out. Captain and I determined this was too close for safety and initiated a go around. I informed Tower of our go around and they said 'Roger; climb to 4000 and turn right heading 270. No; left; left turn 270.' We made the turn and I saw the aircraft climbing underneath us as we turn and we got a TA saying 'traffic traffic'. Shortly after that Tower said 'Aircraft X turn right heading 240. Wait; left; left turn heading 240.' At that point we had gotten an RA from the aircraft and were complying with that. I informed Tower that we were complying with the RA and they responded 'roger; contact Approach on (I don't remember the frequency).' My Captain took the radios as I made a passenger announcement. As I got back on COM 1; we were being vectored back for another visual approach which we flew and landed without further incident.
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Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.