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On Monday, a close call at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport occurred when a plane veered into the path of another aircraft landing on a nearby runway, triggering collision alarms and necessitating quick evasive maneuvers by the pilots.
Republic Airways Flight 4464, operating on behalf of American Airlines, had been granted permission to land on runway 31 Left. Simultaneously, Jazz Aviation flight 554, affiliated with Air Canada, was cleared for landing on the adjacent runway 31 Right.
In a tense moment captured by ATC.com, an air traffic controller urgently communicated to the Republic pilots, “You are flying through the approach course of runway 31 left. Correct immediately.”
An additional controller instructed Jazz 554, “Climb and maintain 3,000 feet,” to avoid the incoming threat. The controller added, “The traffic on your left is overshooting the parallel.”
The Federal Aviation Administration reported that initial findings indicate the Republic aircraft aborted its landing after deviating from its intended approach, leading it dangerously close to Jazz Aviation Flight 554.
Onboard anti-collision alarms sounded in both cockpits and both planes circled the airport before making safe landings.
Republic said its pilots complied with the onboard warning, “and, consistent with our training and procedures, executed a go-around to land without further incident.”
At their closest point, the aircraft were about a half-mile apart and within 350 feet of the same altitude, according to data from Flightradar24.
The FAA is investigating the incident, which follows several close calls in recent days.
Two Southwest Airlines jets got dangerously close near Nashville on Saturday, triggering collision alarms.
Earlier this month, a Frontier Airlines flight taxiing on the ground at Los Angeles International Airport had to slam on the brakes after two trucks passed in front of it.
And last month, a Black Hawk helicopter triggered an anti-collision alarm in a United plane landing in Orange County, California.
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