NEW YORK, June 22 (UPI) -- A Lufthansa flight approaching takeoff barely avoided a collision with an EgyptAir flight that crossed its path at New York's JFK airport, officials said.
Air traffic control tapes indicate a frantic scramble to avoid a potentially fatal collision as the EgyptAir jet taxied into the path of a Lufthansa flight moving at 180 mph Monday evening, the New York Daily News reported.
"Cancel takeoff! Cancel takeoff plans!" an air traffic controller shouted as the Lufthansa Airbus A340 barreled toward the EgyptAir Boeing 777.
"Lufthansa 411 heavy is rejecting takeoff," the Lufthansa pilot was heard saying as the jet slammed on its emergency brakes.
The Egyptian airliner had mistakenly turned onto the wrong runway, the newspaper said.
Stunned pilots in the area were heard expressing sighs of relief, including, "Those two were coming together," and, "That was quite a show. I thought it was going to be a short career."
The two jets carried a total of 632 passengers.
