An American Airlines flight originating from Boston executed an unexpected maneuver during its landing attempt at Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday morning to evade a potential collision with another aircraft that was taking off on the same runway, according to authorities. The Federal Aviation Administration reported that the incident occurred around 8:20 a.m.
The FAA detailed that an air traffic controller directed American Flight 2246 to perform a go-around at Ronald Reagan Washington National (DCA) Airport to ensure proper separation was maintained between their aircraft and a preceding departure utilizing the same runway. In a statement, American Airlines confirmed that the flight made a safe and routine landing. The airline explained the action as a standard go-around procedure, allowing the other plane sufficient time for takeoff.
American Airlines emphasized that a go-around is a common flight maneuver and part of their operational protocol, occurring regularly within the National Airspace System. They clarified that the decision to initiate a go-around is not indicative of any fault and is instrumental in ensuring safe and efficient flight operations. The airline rejected any suggestion that the canceled approach of flight 2246 was anything more than a routine procedure.
A passenger onboard, who resides in Boston, expressed his unease about flying to Reagan National Airport following a tragic plane crash in January involving a Black Hawk helicopter that resulted in the loss of 67 lives. Itai Vardi described the aborted landing as sudden and emergency-like, raising concerns about the pilot’s maneuver.
In a separate incident just an hour and a half after the D.C. occurrence, a Southwest Airlines flight had to abort its landing at Chicago’s Midway International Airport due to a near miss. Video footage captured Flight 2504 from Omaha preparing to land when a private business jet crossed the runway. The Southwest aircraft swiftly ascended and flew approximately 250 feet above the private jet, as indicated by preliminary flight data.
Southwest Airlines informed CBS News that their crew aboard the Boeing 737 Max8 aircraft executed a precautionary go-around to avoid a potential conflict with the other aircraft that intruded onto the runway.
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