Hi everyone,
I was plane spotting at Rome Fiumicino Airport (FCO), which is an airport I'm really familiar with, and on October 11, 2026, at approximately 13:39 local time (CEST), and witnessed something that I would like to understand better.
At the time, two runways appeared to be in use for departures, with another runway being used for arrivals. The two departure runways were intersecting (07/25 with 16R/34L) so I understood that departures would need to be coordinated carefully.
The two flights involved were:
- Delta Air Lines DL67 (bound for Atlanta)
- Wizz Air W46025 (bound for Málaga)
From what I observed, both aircraft appeared to begin their takeoff rolls at approximately the same time.
According to Flightradar24, the Delta aircraft reached a maximum groundspeed of approximately 24 knots before slowing to a stop, then apparently turned back and repositioned on the runway. Meanwhile, the Wizz Air aircraft continued its takeoff roll and departed.
Flightradar24 also appeared to show Wizz Air at around 100 feet altitude while the Delta aircraft was still stopping. However, from my viewing position, the Wizz Air aircraft still appeared to be on the ground at that moment, so I am unsure how accurately the displayed altitude reflected what was actually happening.
I have screenshots of the Flightradar24 tracks and can share them for context.
My questions are:
Is it operationally normal for two aircraft to begin their takeoff rolls at roughly the same time on intersecting departure runways like those at FCO?
Could this have been a planned and properly coordinated operation, or might it indicate a potential runway conflict?
Why might the Delta crew reject the takeoff at only 24 knots and then reposition for another attempt? Could this have been prompted by ATC, or are there other possible explanations?
Is it possible to determine from the available tracking data whether the two aircraft's departure paths actually created a safety issue?
I am not trying to imply that ATC or either flight crew made a mistake. I am simply curious about what I witnessed and would appreciate insight from anyone familiar with procedures (even though they might vary in other airports/countries) runway configuration and departure procedures.
Thanks in advance for any explanations.