NTSB says runway safety system did not activate before fatal Air Canada Express collision

WASHINGTON, April 23 (Reuters) – The National Transportation Safety Board said ​Thursday a ‌key runway safety system failed to activate before a March 22 ‌fatal ​collision between ⁠an Air ⁠Canada Express jet and a fire truck that killed two ​pilots.

The NTSB also said in its ⁠preliminary ⁠report that red ​runway entrance lights that ​indicate when it not ‌safe to cross a runway were on until about ⁠three seconds before the time of the collision. ⁠The ‌NTSB said the ⁠system is ​designed ‌to turn the ​lights off ⁠about 2 to 3 seconds before the airplane reaches each intersection.

(Reporting by David ​Shepardson)