A serious near collision at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York occurred on Monday afternoon, involving an American Airlines regional jet and an Air Canada Express flight. The event unfolded around 2:30 p.m., prompting immediate action from air traffic controllers.
Details of the Near Collision
The incident involved Republic Airways Flight 4464, operating as American Airlines. This aircraft deviated from its designated approach path toward Runway 31L. At the same time, Jazz Aviation Flight 554, which serves Air Canada Express, was cleared to land on the adjacent Runway 31R.
Actions Taken by Air Traffic Controllers
- Controllers detected the potential conflict and quickly instructed the Air Canada crew to ascend to 3,000 feet.
- Both aircraft received resolution advisories, indicating they were too close to each other.
- The pilots acknowledged these alerts and executed go-arounds to prevent a collision.
Proximity Details
Preliminary reports indicate that the two planes came within approximately 350 feet vertically and less than one kilometer horizontally of each other before they separated. Following the incident, both planes successfully circled back and landed without further complications.
Context of the Incident
This near miss at JFK Airport occurs a month after a tragic runway collision at LaGuardia Airport, involving an Air Canada Express jet and a fire truck. These incidents highlight ongoing concerns regarding aviation safety at busy airports.
