A chilling near-miss unfolded Tuesday night at Newark Liberty International Airport, sending investigators scrambling to understand how a potential disaster was narrowly averted. An Alaska Airlines jet and a FedEx cargo plane found themselves on a collision course, overflying each other while attempting to land on intersecting runways.
The sequence of events began around 8:15 p.m. when an air traffic controller, recognizing the dangerous situation, ordered the Alaska Airlines flight to abort its landing. This “go-around” instruction came just as the FedEx plane was cleared for its final approach to the intersecting runway – a split-second decision that likely prevented a catastrophe.
Both aircraft responded as trained. The FedEx flight crew landed safely, adhering to air traffic control’s guidance, while the Alaska Airlines pilots initiated the go-around procedure, a maneuver they are rigorously prepared to execute. Despite the successful outcome, the incident has triggered a full investigation.
The incident resonates with a haunting familiarity, occurring just one year after a devastating mid-air collision near Washington D.C. That tragedy involved an Army Black Hawk helicopter and an American Airlines passenger plane, claiming the lives of 67 people. The memory of that event casts a long shadow over this latest close call.
Newark Liberty, a major transportation hub serving tens of millions annually, has been grappling with significant challenges. Ongoing shortages of air traffic controllers have placed immense strain on operations, contributing to delays and raising concerns about safety margins. This incident is likely to intensify scrutiny of staffing levels.
Federal authorities, including the FAA and NTSB, are now meticulously examining every detail of the near-miss. Investigators will focus on the communication between air traffic control and the flight crews, the sequence of clearances issued, and any potential contributing factors that led to the perilous situation.
The investigation promises to be thorough, aiming to determine exactly what happened and, crucially, how to prevent a similar incident from occurring in the future. The skies above Newark, and across the nation, depend on a clear understanding of the factors at play.
