An Alaska Airlines passenger jet and a FedEx cargo plane came within a few hundred feet of each other during a near-miss incident at Newark Liberty International Airport on Tuesday night, prompting federal investigations into the close call.
The Alaska Airlines flight, arriving from Portland, Oregon, was approaching a runway at approximately 8:17 p.m. when a FedEx Boeing 777 cargo aircraft from Memphis, Tennessee, was simultaneously descending toward a nearby runway.
Flight tracking data shows the two aircraft converged as they prepared to land. At the last moment, an air traffic controller instructed the Alaska Airlines pilots to abort their landing and perform a go-around, directing them to climb and maintain an altitude of 2,000 feet.
At the last minute, an air traffic controller told the pilot of the Alaska Airlines flight to go-around, causing it to narrowly avoid colliding with the FedEx flight
At the time of the instruction, the Alaska jet was already about 150 feet above the ground. Preliminary data from Flightradar24 indicates the aircraft passed within approximately 300 to 325 feet of the FedEx plane.
Audio from air traffic control communications captured the tense moments following the maneuver. After landing safely, the FedEx pilot could be heard thanking the controller, saying, “Nice job.”
No injuries were reported in the incident. Alaska Airlines confirmed there were 171 passengers and six crew members on board the flight, and emphasized that its pilots are trained to execute go-arounds when instructed.
FedEx also stated that its crew followed all directions from air traffic control and completed a safe landing.
The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board have launched investigations to determine how the two aircraft came so close during a critical phase of flight.
Aviation experts say such situations highlight the challenges faced by air traffic controllers in managing closely timed arrivals at busy airports. Michael McCormick, a former vice president of the FAA, said achieving precise timing between aircraft can be difficult.
He suggested that the controller may have delayed issuing the go-around instruction longer than ideal, requiring last-second action to maintain safe separation between the planes.
The incident comes amid ongoing operational strain in the aviation system linked to a partial U.S. government shutdown. Air traffic controllers are continuing to work without pay as lawmakers remain deadlocked over funding for the Department of Homeland Security.
Industry group Airlines for America has urged Congress to resolve the funding dispute, warning of increasing pressure on the aviation system during a busy travel period. The group estimates that 171 million passengers will fly between March 1 and April 30, marking a 4 percent increase compared to the same timeframe last year.
In a letter to lawmakers, the organization cited concerns about delays, cancellations, and staffing challenges during previous shutdowns, including one last fall that disrupted operations and reduced flight capacity at major airports.
In response to safety concerns, the FAA announced additional precautions, including restricting certain helicopter operations near major airports and requiring controllers to rely on radar separation to maintain safe distances between aircraft.
Investigators are expected to review flight data, air traffic control procedures, and communication records as they work to determine the factors that led to the near collision.
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