U.S. federal aviation officials are investigating after an American Airlines jet flew “too close” to an Air Canada plane at New York’s John F. Kennedy Airport on Monday afternoon.
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said the incident occurred at around 2:35 p.m.
“The crew of Republic Airways Flight 4464 performed a go-around at John F. Kennedy International Airport after missing the intended approach path and flying too close to Jazz Aviation Flight 554, which was cleared to land on a parallel runway,” the FAA said in a statement.
The Jazz Aviation flight operating for Air Canada Express originated from Toronto, while the Republic Airways flight, operating as American Airlines, departed from Indianapolis.
The FAA added that both crews responded to their onboard alerts and performed evasive action. The two jets reportedly came within 106.68 metres vertically from each other, and 997.79 metres horizontally.
Audio captured the tense moments as air traffic controllers alerted both pilots.
“Jazz 554, climb and maintain 3,000 (feet),” an air traffic controller is heard instructing the Air Canada Express crew as alarms are heard blaring in the background.
“The traffic off your left is overshooting the parallel.”
The Air Canada pilot informed the controller that the plane’s Traffic Collision Avoidance System had alerted them.
Meanwhile, another air traffic controller informed Republic Airways that there was “traffic off your right side immediately.”
“You just stay at 2,000 feet, sir, flying above you now,” the controller is heard on the audio.
“We’re correcting,” the pilot of Republic Airways responds before telling air traffic control that they are “going around.”
According to FlightAware.com, a flight-tracking website, both planes, which were Embraer ERJ 175 twinjets, performed go-arounds before landing safely at the airport.
The close call comes months after an Air Canada flight crashed into a truck during landing at LaGuardia Airport, killing the two pilots.
A spokesperson for Jazz Aviation confirmed in a statement to CTV News that Flight 8554 on approach into the airport received a traffic warning notification and resolution, as well as direction from air traffic control.
“The crew took immediate action,” Teri Udle, the director of communications for Jazz Aviation, said.
“Safety is our top priority and our crews are well-trained to deal with many operational situations such as this. The flight landed safely at JFK.”
CP24 has also reached out to Republic Airways for comment.
