Close Call at Boston Logan Airport: Delta Flight 263's Narrow Escape Amid Air Traffic Control Challenges
Boston, November 2 - On October 30, 2025, a tense moment unfolded at Boston Logan International Airport when Delta Flight 263, an Airbus A330-900neo carrying 295 passengers and crew, was just 125 feet from landing when air traffic control ordered a sudden go-around. The directive came as Cape Air Flight 548 took off from an intersecting runway, narrowly avoiding a potential collision. FAA audio captured the pilots' surprise, with one exclaiming, "What the heck? That was close," highlighting the gravity of the situation. Despite the close call, the aircraft achieved a minimum vertical separation of about 3,800 feet, and the Delta flight landed safely shortly after. This incident underscores the routine yet critical nature of go-around maneuvers, which occur thousands of times annually without escalation, thanks to aviation's layered safety protocols.
The near-miss at Logan Airport occurred against a backdrop of heightened tension due to a U.S. government shutdown, now in its second month, severely impacting air traffic control operations. On November 1, 2025, 32 air traffic control facilities reported critical staffing shortages, exacerbating delays across the nation. The shutdown has left controllers working without pay, straining an already understaffed system. Experts suggest the Logan incident likely stemmed from a momentary clearance error rather than systemic failure, but the timing raises concerns about the cumulative effects of controller fatigue and reduced manpower. The FAA is investigating to determine whether procedural gaps or operational errors contributed to the event, with a focus on enhancing safety measures at Logan and other airports.
Passenger safety remains paramount, and the Logan incident serves as a reminder of the robust redundancies in place to prevent disasters. Air traffic controllers' quick response to order the go-around maneuver was pivotal, averting what could have been a catastrophic outcome. However, the broader context of the government shutdown cannot be ignored, as it threatens to undermine the very systems designed to ensure safe skies. With thousands of flight delays and cancellations reported nationwide, the pressure on air traffic control is mounting, and the need for resolution grows urgent.
As the FAA scrutinizes the Logan event, the aviation community watches closely, hoping for insights that will bolster safety protocols. The incident, while resolved without injury, highlights the delicate balance between human error and technological safeguards in aviation. For travelers and industry stakeholders alike, the ongoing government shutdown's impact on air travel remains a pressing concern, with potential ramifications for future operations. The hope is that lessons learned from this close call will lead to stronger safeguards, ensuring that such moments remain rare exceptions rather than harbingers of broader systemic risks.