U.S. federal aviation officials are investigating after an American Airlines jet flew “too close” to an Air Canada plane at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport on Monday afternoon, forcing both crews to respond to onboard collision alerts and take evasive action before landing safely.
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration said the incident happened at about 2:35 p.m. and involved Republic Airways Flight 4464, operating as American Airlines, and Jazz Aviation Flight 554, operating for Air Canada Express.
“The crew of Republic Airways Flight 4464 performed a go-around at John F. Kennedy International Airport after missing the intended approach path and flying too close to Jazz Aviation Flight 554, which was cleared to land on a parallel runway,” the FAA said in a statement.
JFK runway incident triggers evasive action
The Jazz Aviation flight had originated in Toronto, while the Republic Airways flight departed from Indianapolis. According to the FAA, both flight crews received onboard alerts and took evasive action as the aircraft converged near the airport.
The two planes reportedly came within 106.68 metres vertically and 997.79 metres horizontally of one another.
Air traffic control audio captured the urgency of the moment as controllers warned both aircraft about the developing conflict near the parallel runways.
“Jazz 554, climb and maintain 3,000 (feet),” an air traffic controller is heard instructing the Air Canada Express crew as alarms are heard blaring in the background.
“The traffic off your left is overshooting the parallel.”
The Air Canada pilot then advised controllers that the aircraft’s Traffic Collision Avoidance System had issued an alert.
Air traffic control audio captures tense exchange
At the same time, another controller warned the Republic Airways crew about nearby traffic.
“Traffic off your right side immediately.”
“You just stay at 2,000 feet, sir, flying above you now,” the controller is heard on the audio.
“We’re correcting,” the pilot of Republic Airways responds before telling air traffic control that they are “going around.”
According to FlightAware.com, both aircraft, identified as Embraer ERJ 175 twinjets, carried out go-arounds before later landing safely at JFK.
The incident adds to recent concerns around aviation safety involving Air Canada flights in the New York area. The close call comes months after an Air Canada flight crashed into a truck during landing at LaGuardia Airport, killing the two pilots.
The FAA investigation is expected to focus on how the Republic Airways flight missed its intended approach path and how both crews and controllers responded during the near miss.
