Federal aviation authorities are examining a dangerous close call that occurred Tuesday evening at Newark Liberty International Airport. An Alaska Airlines passenger jet was forced to abort its landing when it flew over a FedEx cargo plane that was approaching an intersecting runway.
NEWARK, N.J. — Federal aviation authorities are examining a dangerous incident that unfolded Tuesday evening at Newark Liberty International Airport, where two aircraft came dangerously close during landing procedures on intersecting runways.
The National Transportation Safety Board announced Thursday it has launched an investigation into the near-miss involving an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 that flew directly over a FedEx Boeing 777 at the major airport serving the New York metropolitan area.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration, which is also conducting its own investigation, air traffic control directed Alaska Airlines Flight 294, arriving from Portland, Oregon, to execute a go-around maneuver — meaning pilots had to abort their landing attempt and circle back for another try — after FedEx Flight 721 from Memphis, Tennessee, had already received clearance for final approach on a crossing runway.
In a written response, Alaska Airlines confirmed that while their aircraft had initially received landing clearance at Newark, air traffic controllers subsequently “issued a go around to our aircraft, which our pilots are highly trained for.”
FedEx issued its own statement saying their flight crew complied with all air traffic control directives and completed a safe landing.
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