An American Airlines jet had to abort its landing at Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C., early Tuesday morning to prevent a potential collision with another aircraft. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reported that the flight was nearing its descent at approximately 8:20 AM EST when the pilot noticed another plane preparing to take off from the same runway.
The pilot quickly decided to execute a go-around maneuver, ascending back into the air to maintain separation from the other aircraft. An official statement from the FAA explained that the action was necessary to ensure a safe distance between the two planes.
In another incident on the same day, a Southwest Airlines flight experienced a similar near-miss at Chicago Midway Airport. At 9:50 AM EST, Southwest Flight 2504, arriving from Omaha, was forced to pull up just before touching down. A smaller business jet, operated by Flexjet, had entered the runway without authorization. Initial FAA statements confirmed that this unauthorized runway entry prompted the abrupt go-around maneuver. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), along with the FAA, is investigating this incident. A Southwest Airlines representative confirmed that the crew adhered to safety protocols and the flight landed without issues.
These incidents underscore growing worries about aviation safety amid recent air travel incidents. Earlier on Tuesday, a United Airlines flight made an emergency landing at Newark Liberty International Airport following a suspected mechanical issue. On Monday, a Delta Air Lines flight had to return to Atlanta after a cabin haze prompted an emergency landing.
Tragically, 67 individuals died in early February after a U.S. military black Hawk helicopter collided with an American Airlines passenger jet preparing to land at Reagan National Airport.
