A dramatic near-miss has been reported at Boston Logan International Airport, where a Delta Airlines jet was just 300ft (approximately 90 metres) from colliding with an American Airlines plane on Saturday. The close call forced the Delta aircraft to abandon its landing attempt and execute a 'go-around', prompting an immediate investigation by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Flight tracking data suggests that the two planes were mere seconds away from disaster.
The incident involved Delta flight 2351, arriving from Dallas, and an American Airlines plane preparing to depart from an intersecting runway. According to the FAA and flight logs, the Delta crew had to initiate a 'go-around' – an aborted landing procedure – to prevent a potential collision. Todd Curtis, a former safety engineer at Boeing and aviation expert, used Flightradar24 data to estimate the proximity of the two aircraft.
Mr Curtis described the event as a "significant incident", highlighting concerns about experienced airline crews being involved. He noted that federal officials have been worried about 'runway incursions' for some time and will scrutinise Saturday's event thoroughly. Delta confirmed its crew coordinated with air traffic control to perform the go-around, ensuring 129 passengers and six crew members disembarked safely.
The FAA states that go-arounds are standard and safe procedures initiated by pilots or air traffic controllers at their discretion. However, near-misses and runway incursions at US airports have become a pressing concern, prompting a hearing on Capitol Hill. The Senate commerce subcommittee will convene to discuss methods for enhancing safety across the national airspace system.
While this incident occurred in the US, it underscores the global focus on aviation safety. UK travellers frequently use US airports as transit hubs or final destinations, and any improvements in one major market can have far-reaching implications for international travel standards and procedures.