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Why It Matters
A close call between two commercial aircraft at one of the nation’s busiest airports has renewed scrutiny of air traffic control coordination and runway safety procedures. The incident at Boston Logan International Airport is the latest in a series of runway incursion events drawing federal attention across the country.
What Happened
The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating a Saturday morning near-collision between a Delta Air Lines flight and an American Airlines flight at Boston Logan International Airport. The incident unfolded around 11:30 a.m. when the two aircraft came within several hundred feet of each other on intersecting runways.
Delta Air Lines Flight 2351 was on approach for landing when pilots aborted the descent and executed a go-around maneuver. At the same time, American Airlines Flight 3161 was accelerating down an intersecting runway for takeoff. The Delta Airbus A319 climbed away safely, and passengers were eventually able to deplane normally.
Following the incident, an air traffic controller asked the departing American Airlines crew where they were headed. The American Airlines pilot indicated the aircraft had been cleared for takeoff by the tower. American Airlines declined further comment, deferring all questions to the FAA.
By the Numbers
- 11:30 a.m. — approximate time of the aborted approach
- Several hundred feet — estimated closest distance between the two aircraft
- 2 — commercial flights involved in the incident
- 1 — go-around maneuver executed by Delta pilots to avoid collision
Expert Perspective
Aviation safety expert Michael McCormick offered reassurance about the go-around procedure itself, noting that it is a well-practiced emergency response. Passengers, he explained, would not receive any warning before it occurs — they would simply notice the plane climbing back upward after appearing to descend toward the runway.
“Passengers aren’t told in advance it’s going to happen, but they’ll recognize it when suddenly they’re coming in to land and the aircraft just starts rising back up again,” McCormick said.
He added that go-around maneuvers are a routine part of pilot training. “This is something that pilots practice in flight simulators on a regular basis,” McCormick said, emphasizing that crews are well-prepared to execute the maneuver quickly and safely.
Zoom Out
The Boston Logan incident adds to a growing list of runway safety events that have drawn federal scrutiny in recent years. The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board have faced increasing pressure from Congress and the public to explain how aircraft continue to come dangerously close on the ground and during approach phases at major airports. Near-collisions at airports in New York, Austin, and Honolulu have previously triggered investigations and calls for systemic reforms in air traffic management.
Runway incursions — defined by the FAA as any incorrect presence of an aircraft, vehicle, or person on a protected runway surface — remain one of aviation’s most serious safety concerns. The agency classifies the most dangerous incidents as those in which a collision is narrowly avoided, precisely the type of scenario that unfolded Saturday in Boston.
The FAA has faced persistent staffing shortages in its air traffic controller workforce, a challenge the agency has acknowledged publicly. Critics argue that understaffing increases fatigue and the likelihood of clearance errors, though investigators have not yet determined whether controller error played a role in the Boston incident.
What’s Next
The FAA investigation is ongoing. Federal investigators are expected to review tower communications, radar data, and cockpit voice recordings to determine how the two aircraft ended up on intersecting runways simultaneously. The agency has not issued a timeline for releasing its findings.
Both airlines are expected to cooperate fully with the investigation. No injuries were reported among passengers or crew aboard either flight.
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