Federal aviation authorities are investigating a near collision between an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 and a FedEx Boeing 777 at Newark Liberty International Airport on the evening of March 19, 2026. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) confirmed the incident involved both aircraft attempting to land on intersecting runways.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the event occurred around 8:15 p.m. local time when air traffic control instructed Alaska Airlines Flight 294 to execute a go-around maneuver. This directive was issued because FedEx Flight 721 was cleared for final approach on a crossing runway. The FedEx flight landed safely without incident.
An Alaska Airlines spokesperson stated their pilots are trained for go-arounds and that the airline is cooperating with FAA and NTSB investigations. Air traffic briefly halted during the event but has since resumed normal operations.
Newark Liberty International is one of the United States’ busiest airports and has faced air traffic controller shortages recently, contributing to operational delays. This incident marks another significant safety concern following last year’s midair collision near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, which resulted in multiple fatalities.
The FAA and NTSB continue to review the circumstances surrounding the near miss. Further updates will be reported as the investigation progresses.
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