An American Airlines plane descending towards the runway at Washington's Ronald Reagan National Airport had to abort its landing and veer off to avoid a collision with another aircraft that was taking off. The incident took place on Tuesday around 8:20 a.m. when Flight 2246 from Boston followed instructions from an air traffic controller, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
The airline released a statement confirming that the flight "landed safely and as planned" at the National Airport. The statement, shared by the Associated Press, indicated that pilots were directed to execute a go-around—a maneuver used when an aircraft's approach to landing is aborted—"to allow additional time for another aircraft's takeoff."
Just two hours later, a separate incident occurred involving a Southwest Airlines plane from Omaha, Nebraska. It also had to abort its landing at Chicago's Midway International Airport when a private Flexjet jet dangerously crossed its path. Security camera footage showed the Southwest plane briefly touching down on the runway before the pilot quickly lifted off again to avoid an accident.
Fortunately, there were no injuries among the passengers or crew in either incident. This year has seen several aviation accidents in the United States, some resulting in fatalities. These recent occurrences add to a series of air accidents that have happened in recent weeks across both military and civilian sectors.
The most severe incident occurred on January 29, when a commercial plane and an army helicopter collided near the capital, resulting in the deaths of 67 people. Additionally, on February 7, a small passenger plane crashed in Alaska, leading to the tragic loss of ten lives.
FAQs on Recent Aviation Incidents in the U.S.
What caused the American Airlines flight to abort its landing?
The American Airlines flight was instructed to abort its landing to avoid a collision with another aircraft that was taking off.
Were there any injuries in these recent aviation incidents?
Fortunately, there were no injuries reported among the passengers or crew in the recent incidents involving American Airlines and Southwest Airlines.
What was the most severe air accident this year in the U.S.?
The most severe air accident occurred on January 29, when a commercial plane and an army helicopter collided, resulting in 67 fatalities.