Boston: Two commercial jets came extremely close to each other at Boston’s Logan International Airport, prompting one of them to abort its landing.
A Delta Air Lines jet came within approximately 300 feet (90 metres) of an American Airlines plane, The Independent reported.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has launched an investigation into this “near miss” incident involving the two commercial flights.
Former Boeing safety engineer and co-producer of a flight safety podcast, Todd Curtis, estimated the proximity using flight tracking data.
He described it as “a significant incident” given the fact that it involved two professional airline crews. He highlighted ongoing concerns among federal aviation officials about such runway incursions, predicting intense scrutiny of the event.
Incidentally, a Capitol Hill hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, in which the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Aviation, Space, and Innovation will address near-misses and runway incursions at US airports and seek ways to enhance national airspace safety.
Delta flight 2351, arriving from Dallas, had to execute a “go-around” – an aborted landing – to avoid the American plane departing from an intersecting runway, according to the FAA and flight logs.
The crew coordinated with air traffic control for the maneuver, a Delta spokesperson confirmed. The aircraft, carrying 129 passengers and six crew members, subsequently landed safely and deplaned without issue.
Go-arounds are considered safe, routine procedures, performed at the discretion of either the pilot or air traffic controllers, the FAA confirmed.
