US aviation authorities are investigating a runway conflict involving Delta Air Lines and American Airlines aircraft at Boston Logan International Airport on June 21.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration, the crew of Delta flight 2351 performed a go-around after an American Airlines Boeing 737-800 began its takeoff roll from an intersecting runway while the Delta jet was on final approach.
Flight tracking data indicates the incident occurred at about 11:30 a.m. local time. The Delta Airbus A319 discontinued its landing and climbed away before later returning for a safe landing.
Data reviewed by aviation tracking services suggested the two aircraft came within several hundred feet of each other during the event.
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Delta said its crew followed established procedures and coordinated with air traffic control during the maneuver. Passengers later deplaned normally after the aircraft landed safely.
Air traffic control recordings published by aviation monitoring websites captured a controller questioning the crew of the departing American Airlines flight after the incident. According to the audio, the pilots replied that they had received takeoff clearance from the tower.
The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board have opened investigations to determine how the conflict occurred and whether air traffic control procedures, flight crew actions or other factors contributed to the event.
A go-around is a standard safety procedure in which pilots abandon a landing attempt and climb away from the airport before receiving new instructions from controllers. The maneuver can be initiated for a variety of reasons, including unstable approaches, runway occupancy conflicts, adverse weather conditions or unexpected traffic movements.
Although go-arounds are routinely practiced by airline crews and occur daily across the United States, the Boston event is likely to attract additional scrutiny as regulators continue examining runway incursions and loss-of-separation incidents at major airports.
The incident also comes as US aviation authorities face renewed pressure to address a series of high-profile safety events in recent years, including several runway conflicts and the fatal midair collision near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in January 2025.
