A Delta Air Lines flight arriving from Dallas was forced to abort its landing at Boston Logan International Airport after coming within an estimated 300 feet of an American Airlines aircraft departing from an intersecting runway, according to aviation officials and flight tracking data.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has opened an investigation into the incident, which occurred around 11:34 a.m. E.T. Saturday and involved Delta Flight 2351 and American Airlines Flight 3161.
Audio recordings from air traffic control captured the tense exchange as the Delta crew initiated a go-around, a standard maneuver in which a pilot aborts a landing and climbs away from the runway.
“Delta 2351 going around because of American,” the Delta pilot told controllers, according to archived communications, Fox News reported.
A controller then asked, “American 3161, where are you going?”
“You cleared us for takeoff 3161,” the American Airlines pilot responded.
Aircraft Came Within Estimated 300 Feet
Todd Curtis, a former Boeing safety engineer and aviation safety analyst, estimated that the aircraft came within 300 feet of each other, based on Flightradar24 flight-tracking data.
Curtis described the event as a significant safety incident, particularly because it involved two commercial airline crews operating in a controlled airport environment.
The FAA said the Delta aircraft performed the go-around to avoid the American Airlines jet, which was departing from an intersecting runway.
Following the maneuver, air traffic controllers instructed the Delta crew to maintain an altitude of 3,000 feet. The aircraft landed safely about 10 minutes later.
Passengers Landed Safely
Delta said there were 129 passengers and six crew members aboard the flight.
A company spokesperson said the crew received a traffic advisory from onboard systems while descending toward the airport.
“Delta aircraft are equipped with technology to warn crews of potential conflicts with other aircraft and our pilots train extensively to respond,” the airline said in a statement, per Fox.
The airline added that the flight landed safely and passengers deplaned normally.
The FAA describes go-arounds as safe, routine procedures that can be initiated by pilots or air traffic controllers when necessary.
Aviation Safety Concerns Under Scrutiny
The close call comes amid renewed national attention on aviation safety and a series of recent near-miss incidents across the country.
The incident was discussed as lawmakers examined runway incursions and airspace safety during a Senate hearing focused on preventing future aviation accidents.
Sen. Jerry Moran of Kansas said close calls should serve as warnings about vulnerabilities within the nation’s aviation system.
“Regardless of that outcome, they still remain a warning call for, and a reminder that our aviation system is fragile,” Moran said, per ABC 7.
Sen. Tammy Duckworth of Illinois noted that many recent incidents have been avoided only because of quick action by aviation professionals.
“In far too many of these incidents, the difference between a close call and a deadly disaster has come down to a single, highly trained and professional individual taking emergency action,” Duckworth said. ABC reported.
Former New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu, now president and CEO of Airlines for America, urged Congress to continue funding modernization of the nation’s air traffic control infrastructure, saying technology upgrades are needed to address long-standing system gaps.
The FAA’s investigation into the Boston Logan incident remains ongoing.
