In a nerve-jangling moment on a snowy Sunday morning at Boston Logan International Airport, a Republic Airways regional jet operating for Delta aborted its takeoff roll after another aircraft crossed its path in a snow squall, according to passengers. One traveler estimated the other plane passed roughly 200 yards away and called the move that stopped the jet a prevention of a “complete disaster.” No injuries were reported, and after the crew performed checks, the jet taxied back to the start of the runway and took off a short time later.
Passengers Describe Sudden Stop During Snow
A passenger who spoke with reporters said the aircraft, carrying about 100 people and bound for John F. Kennedy International Airport, “hit the brakes hard” and came to an abrupt stop when the crew aborted the takeoff. Another traveler told 7NEWS the other plane “was approximately 200 yards away,” and both passengers credited the pilots with keeping everyone safe.
As reported by WHDH, a Republic Airways spokesperson told the station the airline had no reports to share about the flight and directed all inquiries to the FAA and Massport.
Logan's Recent Close Calls Put Runway Safety In Focus
Logan has logged a series of high-profile near misses in recent years, prompting federal officials to steer funding and safety reviews toward reducing runway incursions at the busy airport. As reported by The Boston Globe, the FAA has funneled nearly $45 million into projects at Logan that simplify taxiway geometry and add safety systems after earlier incidents. Local officials note that the airport’s intersecting runways and heavy winter traffic make those changes especially critical.
FAA Pushes Tech And Design Fixes
The FAA has introduced measures such as Runway Incursion Devices, runway status lights and a Runway Incursion Mitigation (RIM) initiative to sharpen surface awareness for controllers and flight crews. According to the FAA, these efforts include infrastructure redesign, upgraded signage and surface surveillance tools that work together to lower the risk of dangerous crossings.
What Investigators Will Look At
The federal investigation will center on air traffic control recordings, controller logs, pilot readbacks and flight data to piece together how the runway crossing occurred and whether procedures were followed. For now, the FAA and Massport are leading the inquiry while travelers and airlines absorb yet another close call at New England’s busiest airport.
