Delta Pilot’s Close Call at Boston Logan: FAA Launches Investigation After Dramatic Go-Around

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is looking into a close call that occurred at Boston’s Logan Airport on Thursday. This incident involved a Delta Air Lines flight landing and a Cape Air plane taking off.

Delta Flight 263 was traveling from Paris to New York’s JFK Airport but had to divert to Boston due to bad weather in the New York area. As the Airbus 330-900neo approached Logan around 4:15 p.m. Eastern Time, air traffic control asked the flight to “go around.” This was necessary to maintain a safe distance from the Cape Air flight that was already cleared for takeoff.

According to the FAA, a go-around is when pilots abort their landing approach as instructed by air traffic control. Delta confirmed that after the go-around, the flight landed safely, and passengers were able to deboard without issues.

The exact distance between the two planes remains unclear, but recordings from air traffic control captured the pilots’ surprised reactions. The Cape Air pilot exclaimed, “What the heck?” while the Delta pilot noted, “That was close.” The conversation highlights the tension in the cockpit during such a critical moment.

This incident underscores ongoing concerns regarding air traffic control staffing. Delta, along with other airlines, is urging Congress to resolve the government shutdown affecting air traffic controllers, many of whom are reportedly calling in sick more frequently.

It’s worth noting that in recent months, nearly 50% of air traffic controllers reported feeling stressed due to their workload and staffing shortages, according to a survey by the National Air Traffic Controllers Association. This situation raises questions about aviation safety standards, especially as air travel continues to rebound post-pandemic.

For more on aviation safety practices, you can visit the FAA’s official page here.

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