NTSB Probes Newark Close Call Between FedEx, Alaska Jets

U.S. safety regulators are investigating a serious close call at Newark Liberty International Airport involving an Alaska Airlines passenger jet and a FedEx cargo aircraft during simultaneous landing attempts on intersecting runways.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) confirmed it has opened an investigation into the March 19 incident, underscoring the severity of the event. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which reviews most airspace incidents, is also conducting its own inquiry.

According to the FAA, Alaska Airlines Flight 294, a Boeing 737 Max arriving from Portland, Oregon, was initially cleared to land at Newark. At the same time, FedEx Flight 721, a Boeing 777-200LRF freighter, had been cleared for final approach on a crossing runway.

As the situation developed, air traffic control instructed the Alaska Airlines flight to perform a go-around—a standard safety maneuver that requires pilots to abort the landing and climb away from the runway. The aircraft climbed from approximately 300 to 325 feet as it passed over the intersecting runway where the FedEx jet was approaching.

Alaska Airlines said its pilots responded appropriately to the instruction, noting that go-arounds are routine procedures for which crews are extensively trained. FedEx confirmed its aircraft continued its approach under air traffic control guidance and landed safely without incident.

While no injuries or damage were reported, the NTSB’s involvement indicates the incident is being treated as a significant close call. The agency typically launches investigations only into more serious safety events.

The incident comes amid heightened scrutiny of U.S. aviation safety following a series of near-misses in recent years. In 2023, several close-call events prompted congressional hearings into air traffic control operations and staffing shortages.

Concerns intensified further after a fatal midair collision in January 2025 involving an American Airlines regional jet and a U.S. Army helicopter near Washington, D.C., which killed 67 people. That accident led to multiple safety recommendations from the NTSB and renewed focus on operational procedures.

In response to ongoing risks, the FAA recently introduced new measures aimed at improving separation between aircraft, including limiting helicopter operations near major airports and requiring increased reliance on radar-based separation rather than visual procedures.

The Newark close call highlights the challenges of managing complex airspace at busy airports with intersecting runways, where precise coordination between pilots and controllers is critical to maintaining safety margins.

Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, reuters.com