Photo: Michael M. Santiago / Getty Images News / Getty Images
On Monday (May 4), a close call occurred at John F. Kennedy International Airport when a regional Delta Air Lines flight nearly collided with a small propeller plane. As the Delta flight, operated by Endeavor Air, approached the airport, an air traffic controller warned the pilot about a Cirrus personal aircraft flying just 500 feet above. Both planes were instructed to maintain their positions, preventing a mid-air collision.
According to ABC News, the Delta pilot initially received a traffic advisory, followed by a resolution advisory from the collision avoidance system. Fortunately, the advisory did not require any maneuvering, allowing both planes to pass safely.
Preliminary data from Flightradar24 indicated a vertical separation of about 475 feet between the two aircraft, with the Delta plane at 2,100 feet and the Cirrus plane at 2,575 feet. The incident occurred around 5 p.m. and was the second close call at a New York airport in two days.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is investigating the incident. The close encounter followed another near miss at Newark Liberty International Airport the previous day, highlighting ongoing concerns about air traffic safety.