Truck, plane nearly collide at Boston airport; driver may have been on cell phone

Close call at Boston as truck crosses runway

BOSTON — Authorities say a construction truck crossed an airport runway in Boston just before a plane took off behind it.

Airport spokesman Phil Orlandella says the plane and truck were “seconds” from colliding Thursday morning at Logan International.

He says officials are investigating whether the driver was using a cell phone and don’t believe alcohol was involved.

US Airways Flight 27 flew on to Phoenix after taking off about 6:30 a.m. with 84 passengers and five crew members.

The truck driver worked for an engineering company but was trained by the state agency that operates the airport.

Orlandella says the driver had 15 years’ experience. He was pulled off the airfield and construction was stopped while officials investigate.