Washington, DC, March 20 - The US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has launched an investigation into a serious close call at Newark Liberty International Airport involving a FedEx cargo jet and an Alaska Airlines passenger flight. The incident occurred on Tuesday evening when both aircraft were on approach to intersecting runways, highlighting ongoing concerns about runway safety and air traffic control coordination at one of the nation's busiest hubs. The NTSB described the event as a "close call," with the Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 overflying a FedEx Boeing 777 as the latter was on its final approach and landing path. This type of near-miss, involving crossing runways at Newark Airport, underscores the complexities of managing high-volume traffic in congested airspace near New York City.
The FAA is investigating after a close call between an Alaska Airlines flight and a FedEx cargo plane at Newark Airport on Tuesday night.
— CBS News (@CBSNews) March 19, 2026
The FAA says an air traffic controller instructed Alaska Airlines Flight 294 to perform a go-around because FedEx Flight 721 was cleared for… pic.twitter.com/AJUdiZ9xNV
According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which is also conducting its own review, an air traffic controller issued instructions to Alaska Airlines Flight 294, a Boeing 737 arriving from Portland, Oregon, to execute a go-around maneuver. This directive came because FedEx Flight 721, a Boeing 777 cargo jet from Memphis, Tennessee, had already been cleared for landing on the intersecting runway. The go-around was initiated when the Alaska flight was at a low altitude, approximately 300 to 325 feet, prompting the aircraft to climb and pass directly over the FedEx plane as it continued its approach and touchdown. Preliminary data indicate the vertical separation between the two jets was minimal during the overflight, emphasizing how quickly such situations can escalate without timely intervention.
The NTSB typically reserves its involvement for significant aviation incidents where enhanced scrutiny is warranted beyond routine FAA oversight, signaling the potential severity of this event. Both aircraft landed safely following the maneuver, with the Alaska flight completing a successful second approach without further complications. No injuries were reported, and operations at Newark Liberty International Airport continued normally after the incident. Aviation authorities are examining factors such as sequencing of arrivals, controller communications, and adherence to separation standards to determine what led to the need for the last-minute go-around.
This close call at Newark Airport serves as a reminder of the critical importance of precise air traffic management in preventing runway incursions and near-misses. Investigations like this one by the NTSB and FAA aim to identify any procedural gaps or contributing elements to enhance safety protocols at major airports. As details emerge from the ongoing probe, findings could influence training, technology deployment, or operational guidelines to reduce risks in similar high-traffic environments.