Boston Logan controllers avert close call between Delta and American jets

Air traffic controllers at Boston Logan International Airport stopped a potential collision on Saturday after two passenger jets came within about 300 feet of each other. According to reports cited by the New York Post, a Delta Air Lines plane was forced to abort its landing at the last moment and climb away to avoid hitting an American Airlines aircraft that was on the runway.

Audio recordings from the tower captured the tense exchange. The controller urgently asked the American flight, “American 3161, where are you going?”, and the pilot replied, “You cleared us for takeoff 3161.” At the same time, the Delta pilot radioed, “Delta 2351 going around because of American.”

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration is investigating the incident. A post shared by The Globe & News on June 21, 2026 said the FAA was reviewing a near-miss involving Delta Air Lines Flight 2351, an Airbus A319, at Boston Logan International Airport. Safety expert and former Boeing engineer Todd Curtis called it an “important event.”

Delta said the aircraft’s onboard technology helped prevent disaster. Spokesman Anthony Black said, “Delta aircraft are equipped with technology to alert crews to potential conflicts with other aircraft, and our pilots receive extensive training to respond.” The Delta flight had come from Dallas with 129 passengers and six crew members and landed safely after the maneuver. The American Airlines jet, a Boeing 737, was in the process of departing for Charlotte when the event occurred.