During a Senate Committee hearing on Tuesday, Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) credited a Delta Air Lines flight crew for helping avoid a catastrophic collision at Boston’s Logan Airport. The hearing, titled “Close calls: Improving safety across the national airspace system,” referenced the near-collision between a Delta Air Lines aircraft and an American Airlines aircraft.
“The crew of the Delta flight spotted the American Boeing 737 and executed a go-around to avoid a collision, saving the lives of the 129 passengers and six crew members on board,” Duckworth stated. The incident involved Delta Air Lines Flight 2351, an Airbus A319, which performed a go-around at Boston’s airport around 11:30 a.m. after another aircraft (American Airlines Flight 3161, Boeing 737-823) departed from an intersecting runway.
A Delta spokesperson confirmed the crew followed established procedures in coordination with Air Traffic Control and executed the go-around. The Federal Aviation Administration reported the jets were approximately 300 feet apart during the near-miss. CBS Mornings noted that airline systems issued warnings of potential traffic conflicts, prompting pilots to respond swiftly.
“The incident serves as a reminder of why continued vigilance and safety improvements across the national airspace system remain essential,” said Sen. Jerry Moran, who highlighted the need for further action during his remarks at the hearing. The FAA is actively investigating the event as part of ongoing efforts to address recurring close calls in U.S. aviation safety protocols.
Go-arounds are routine procedures authorized by pilots or air traffic controllers under FAA guidelines, designed to prevent collisions when potential conflicts arise.
