Near Collision at Newark Airport Prompts FAA Investigation

Newark Liberty International Airport was the site of a harrowing near-miss on Tuesday, March 18, 2026, when an Alaska Airlines flight and a FedEx cargo plane came within 300-325 feet of colliding on intersecting runways. The incident is currently under investigation by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).

What Happened?

According to radar data from FlightRadar24, the near-collision occurred around 8:17 p.m. As Alaska Airlines Flight 294, arriving from Portland, Oregon, and FedEx Flight 721, arriving from Memphis, Tennessee, were attempting to land. Air traffic control instructed the Alaska Airlines plane to abort its landing seconds before touchdown, while the FedEx plane continued its approach on the intersecting runway. The Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 cleared the FedEx Boeing 777 by a mere 300 to 325 feet.

Official Statements

The FAA stated that an air traffic controller instructed Alaska Airlines Flight 294 to perform a go-around due to FedEx Flight 721 being cleared for final approach to an intersecting runway. ABC News reports the FAA is investigating the incident.

FedEx released a statement confirming that its flight crew followed instructions from air traffic control and landed safely at Newark Liberty International Airport. The Independent also reported on the safe landing of the FedEx flight.

Alaska Airlines confirmed that their flight was cleared to land and that air traffic control issued a go-around, for which their pilots are highly trained.

Expert Analysis

Former FAA official Michael McCormick attributed the incident to the challenges of managing traffic at Newark’s intersecting runways. He suggested the tower controller may have waited too long to issue the go-around instruction. The Independent quoted McCormick’s analysis.

Previous Incidents at Newark

This incident is not isolated. On March 3, 2026, a Singapore Airlines aircraft clipped the wings of a Spirit Airlines plane at the same airport, highlighting ongoing safety concerns at Newark Liberty International Airport. The Independent noted this prior incident.

Ongoing Investigation

The NTSB has launched a full investigation into the near-collision, focusing on runway safety and air traffic control coordination at Newark. Aero News Journal is following the investigation closely.