Harrowing near-collision on Missouri runway being investigated

A regional airliner carrying 53 people narrowly missed a high-speed collision with a van carrying workers to a barbecue at an airport near Branson, Missouri, according to newly released surveillance video. The US NTSB sent an investigator to Springfield-Branson National Airport and the agency is “very interested in the event,” a spokesman said. The video released by the airport shows the plane, operated by American Airlines subsidiary Envoy Air, starting its take-off in June at more than 100 miles an hour just moments after the van passed. The driver of the van and 2 passengers were rushing to make it to the airport barbecue before it ended at 1 pm June 27, and decided to cross over the runway. An air-traffic controller at the airport tower cleared the van to cross the runway, according to the report and air-traffic tapes. <br/>