A B767-200 took off on Runway 25R with a B747 between runways at Taxiway U with its tail encroaching over Runway 25R hold line. The Tower claimed; when ask; that the radar showed the B747 clear of the runway.
Synopsis
A B767-200 took off on Runway 25R with a B747 between runways at Taxiway U with its tail encroaching over Runway 25R hold line. The Tower claimed; when ask; that the radar showed the B747 clear of the runway.
Narrative
[We were] cleared for takeoff on Runway 25R at LAX. Information had the weather as 1400 OVC and four in haze. I see a hazy B747 at the far west end of the field holding short of Runway 25L between 25L and 25R. I ask the First Officer to verify with the Tower that the B747 at the far west end of the airport is clear of the runway. The Tower says the B747 is clear of 25R and we takeoff. As we climb out over the B747; which was on Taxiway Uniform; I see his entire tail section is north of the 25R clear line. That is; his tail is on the 25R side of the 25R hold short line but not over the runway markings. The tower clears us to SOCAL at the same time I am looking at the B747. I tell the tower that the B747 is on 25R. The Tower says the B747 is showing clear of 25R on radar. I say that his tail is over the clear line so we will have to do whatever paperwork is needed. The Tower acknowledges and I go to departure control. While we were waiting for takeoff; facing eastbound; unable to see the airport; we heard the Tower ask the B747 to pull up close to the 25L hold lines; and at least two other planes took off after this call from the tower to the B747 before we did; thus at least two other planes took off with the B747 tail over the 25R hold line before we did. From where I was at the start of the takeoff roll; 12;000 feet away and at the bottom of a hill that crests just west of the terminal area and goes back downhill to the B747; it was impossible to tell where the B747 was in relation to the hold lines; just that there was a B747 between the runways.
Second reporter narrative
Cleared to 'Line-up and wait' 25R at LAX. We moved into position and saw at the far end of the field a B747 facing south on the Uniform Taxi way between the runways. We were cleared for take off but the Captain asked me to call the tower and to make sure the B747 was clear of the runway. The tower said the aircraft was clear of the runway and once again cleared us for takeoff. The Captain transferred control of the aircraft to me and I started the takeoff roll. Once we lifted off the Captain called the tower to inform them the tail of the B747 was clearly over the hold short line. The tower controller responded that on his radar he showed the B747 to be clear of the runway. (four miles visibility in haze.)
More incidents for this aircraft family →
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.