Boston, United States: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is investigating a close-call incident at Boston Logan International Airport on Thursday afternoon, when a Delta Air Lines widebody jet and a Cape Air commuter aircraft came dangerously close to each other on intersecting runways.
According to FAA officials, Delta Flight 263 an Airbus A330-900neo operating from Paris Charles de Gaulle to New York-JFK had been diverted to Boston due to weather in the New York area. The aircraft, carrying 284 passengers and 11 crew, was on approach to Logan around 4:15 p.m. ET when air traffic control ordered the pilots to perform a go-around to maintain safe separation from Cape Air Flight 548, which had been cleared for takeoff on an intersecting runway.
Audio recordings from LiveATC.net, cited by multiple outlets, captured the tense exchange between the flight crews. As the Delta A330 climbed away from the runway, one of its pilots radioed, “That was close.” Moments later, a Cape Air pilot could be heard responding, “Yeah, man, not cool.”
While no collision occurred and both flights landed safely, aviation experts said the proximity of the two aircraft estimated at less than half a mile at one point warranted investigation. “Even when vertical and horizontal separation remains within limits, intersecting-runway operations always carry elevated risk,” one aviation analyst told WCVB Boston.
The FAA confirmed that controllers instructed the Delta crew to abort landing to “ensure safe separation” after the Cape Air flight was cleared for departure. The agency has since opened a formal investigation into the event to determine whether procedural, human, or environmental factors contributed.
Both airlines confirmed that their pilots followed ATC instructions. “Delta Air Lines is cooperating fully with the FAA’s review,” the company said in a statement, adding that safety remains its top priority. Cape Air also noted that its pilots “acted in accordance with clearance and protocol. ”The incident comes amid rising operational pressure on U.S. air traffic controllers, who have faced long shifts and reduced staffing levels exacerbated by the ongoing federal government shutdown. Nearly 13,000 air traffic controllers working without pay and prompting hundreds to take on second jobs to cover essential expenses. The situation, aviation unions warn, is beginning to pose serious risks to both air safety and system reliability.
