Federal aviation officials are digging into a potential close call at Boston Logan International Airport on Saturday, June 20, when a Delta jet aborted its approach and climbed away just as an American Airlines plane started its takeoff from an intersecting runway. The scramble unfolded around 11:30 a.m. and, while it certainly raised heart rates, authorities say there were no injuries. Airport operations were briefly disrupted while the Federal Aviation Administration opened an inquiry.
ATC audio captures tense exchange
According to WCVB, air traffic control audio recorded the moment the American flight began its takeoff roll and the Delta crew immediately initiated a go-around. WCVB identified the Delta flight as Flight 2351 and reported that controllers and pilots traded terse, clipped radio calls as the maneuver played out. The station also noted that there were no injuries and no obvious damage to either aircraft.
Federal probe is under way
The FAA confirmed on its incidents page that it is investigating the event and that the review is ongoing, which the FAA describes as standard procedure whenever separation between aircraft is in question. Investigators routinely review radar tracks, tower and approach recordings, and flight data and cockpit voice recordings to determine how close the planes came and why separation broke down. The agency has not identified any enforcement action or named any party at fault while the review continues.
What investigators will examine
Previous local reporting notes that probes focus closely on controller clearances, pilot readbacks, and the exact timing between those clearances and aircraft movements, all of which can be reconstructed from recordings and surveillance data, The Boston Globe observed after an earlier Logan incident. Authorities compare radar, ADS-B, and surface surveillance traces with tower audio to measure horizontal and vertical separation. Depending on what they find, outcomes can range from closing the case with no action to targeted procedural adjustments or additional training.
Why Logan's layout matters
Logan’s mix of intersecting runways and heavy regional traffic has long complicated surface and approach sequencing, and local coverage has tracked FAA investments and projects aimed at reducing near misses at the airport, investments and projects that are designed to help keep those tight crossings under control. Intersecting runways increase complexity because departures and arrivals can end up on crossing paths if timing slips. Infrastructure upgrades and surface-surveillance tools provide extra layers of protection, but real-time human decisions still play a major role.
What flyers should know
Massport and the airlines typically absorb any knock-on delays from incidents like this, and travelers can check real-time updates on Massport’s flight status page at Massport. Local reporting indicates the disruption at Logan was limited and that flights resumed after routine safety checks. Passengers on the affected flights were not hurt, according to WCVB. Anyone flying through Logan this weekend would be wise to keep an eye on airline alerts for any schedule changes.
The FAA says the investigation remains open and that it will release additional details after reviewing recordings and flight data. This story will be updated if federal investigators or the airlines publish further findings.
