ATLANTA -- A Delta 757 and an Atlantic Southeast regional jet came within three seconds of a disastrous runway collision Friday at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.

ATL FLIGHTS: Check Departures & Arrivals

Without clearance from the tower, ASA flight 876 to Greensboro, N.C. crossed runway 27-right at 10:10 a.m. just as Delta flight 261 roared down that same runway, taking off for Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.

The 757 was too far into its takeoff to shut down and came within 1,250 feet of the smaller jet, Federal Aviation Administration spokesperson Kathleen Bergen confirmed to WSB-TV Channel 2.

A representative of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association said the planes were three seconds from a collision.

Officials at both the FAA and the National Air Traffic Controllers Association said the ASA pilot failed to follow instructions from controllers.

The ASA pilot had been told to wait until the Delta flight took off before crossing the runway, according to Doug Church, Director of Communications for NATCA.

The pilot repeated the instructions back to the tower, but proceeded across the runway; directly into the path of the Delta jet, Church added.

Both flights continued on to their destinations. No passengers were injured.