Philly Airport Installs $8M Concrete Airbag for Runaway Planes
Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) just wrapped up installing the aviation world’s most expensive safety cushion. The $8 million Engineered Materials Arresting System now sits at the end of runway 8-26, ready to catch any plane that can’t stop.
Concrete That’s Designed to Get Crushed
This isn’t your typical runway material. The mesh-concrete padding is meant to be crushed, almost encapsulating the plane’s landing gear to bring it to a complete stop. Think expensive bubble wrap for Boeing 747s. “Like the airbags in our car, we never want to use them, but we are glad they are there,” explains Atif Saeed, CEO of Philadelphia’s Department of Aviation.
Proven Track Record
The technology works. Runway Safe reports 24 real-world incidents with 100% success rates, from 747s to business jets. Most memorable: a 2018 Southwest Airlines incident at Hollywood Burbank where passengers barely noticed the stop.
What It Means for Travelers
The system allows PHL to satisfy strict safety standards while building additional capacity, according to FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford. More flights, better schedules, fewer delays for Central Jersey travelers.
The runway reopened after construction that started in September 2024. Now Philadelphia has the ultimate insurance policy: concrete designed to be destroyed the moment it actually saves lives.