On February 25, 2025, an American Airlines flight approaching Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington, Virginia, was forced to abandon its landing to avoid a potential collision with another aircraft departing from the same runway. The incident, which involved American Airlines Flight AA2246 traveling from Boston, occurred around 8:20 a.m., highlighting the critical role of air traffic control and pilot coordination in maintaining safety in one of the nation’s busiest airspaces. The Federal Aviation Administration quickly confirmed that the arriving plane performed a go-around—a standard maneuver where an aircraft aborts its landing approach and climbs back into the sky—at the direction of air traffic controllers to ensure safe separation from the departing plane.
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The aircraft in question was an Airbus A319, a narrow-body jet commonly used by American Airlines for short-haul domestic routes like the one from Boston Logan International Airport to Washington National. With a capacity of up to 128 passengers, the plane was nearing the end of its roughly 90-minute journey when the situation unfolded. Air traffic controllers, stationed in the airport’s distinctive control tower overlooking the Potomac River, detected that the departing aircraft needed additional time to clear the runway. In response, they instructed the pilots of Flight 2246 to discontinue their descent, a decision that underscores the precision required to manage the complex choreography of takeoffs and landings at an airport known for its challenging approach paths and proximity to restricted airspace around Washington, D.C. The go-around was executed smoothly, and the American Airlines plane circled back before landing safely on its second attempt. The airline later released a statement emphasizing that the flight “landed safely and normally” following the maneuver, which allowed the departing aircraft more time to take off. American Airlines also highlighted its “no-fault go-around policy,” noting that such procedures are routine and occur almost daily across the National Airspace System. This policy reflects the aviation industry’s proactive approach to safety, treating go-arounds as a vital tool for pilots and controllers alike to maintain operational integrity, whether due to runway incursions, weather conditions, or other unforeseen circumstances.
Details about the departing aircraft—its airline, destination, or type—were not immediately released, but the incident took place against a backdrop of heightened scrutiny on aviation safety following several high-profile incidents in North America earlier that month. Just weeks prior, on February 6, a commuter plane crash in Alaska claimed 10 lives, while a January 26 midair collision at Washington National between an Army helicopter and another American Airlines flight resulted in 67 fatalities. Additionally, a medical transport jet crashed in Philadelphia on January 31, killing seven, and a Delta flight flipped over on landing in Toronto on February 17, injuring 21. While these events were unrelated to the Flight 2246 go-around, they intensified the public and regulatory focus on air travel safety protocols. Aviation experts familiar with Washington National’s operations noted that go-arounds, though not uncommon, are particularly notable at this airport due to its single-runway configuration for most commercial traffic and the tight scheduling of flights.
The Federal Aviation Administration reported that nearly 4 out of every 1,000 arrivals at the country’s 30 busiest airports involved go-arounds in the fiscal year 2023, a statistic that contextualizes the frequency of such maneuvers in busy hubs. For Flight 2246, the pilots’ training and the air traffic controllers’ quick response ensured that what could have been a dangerous situation was resolved without incident. The aircraft taxied to the gate as usual after landing, and no injuries were reported among passengers or crew. The Federal Aviation Administration has launched an investigation to determine the precise circumstances that led to the near-conflict, including whether human error, procedural lapses, or timing issues were at play. American Airlines has pledged full cooperation, and the aircraft involved is likely undergoing standard post-incident inspections. For passengers on board, the go-around may have registered as little more than an unexpected jolt followed by a scenic loop over the capital region before touching down. Yet, the event serves as a reminder of the intricate systems and split-second decisions that keep air travel among the safest modes of transportation, even when the unexpected arises. As of February 27, 2025, further findings from the investigation are pending, but the safe outcome of Flight 2246’s brief detour stands as a testament to the robustness of aviation safety measures.