The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is investigating a near-miss incident that occurred on July 8th, 2024, at Syracuse Hancock International Airport (SYR) in New York.
Two commercial aircraft, both identified as Mitsubishi CRJ-900LRs, operating on behalf of American Airlines and Delta Airlines came dangerously close to each other.
An American Airlines flight (AA5511, tail number N555NN) operated by a regional carrier was cleared to land on runway 28 at Syracuse Airport. At the same time, the ATC cleared a Delta flight (DL5421, tail number N927XJ) operated by another regional carrier to take off from the same runway while the American Airlines flight was still on approach.
As flight DL5421 took off, this triggered the automatic collision warning system on the American Airlines aircraft, forcing the pilots to initiate a go-around maneuver to avoid a collision. Thankfully, both aircraft were able to maintain safe separation.
The FAA’s investigation will center on understanding how this air traffic control error occurred. They will examine communication protocols and procedures to identify any potential gaps that might have contributed to the incident.
This investigation aims to implement preventative measures to ensure similar situations don’t occur in the future, highlighting the vital role of air traffic control and safety protocols in maintaining safe airspace for passengers and crew.
