Air traffic control audio reveals tense moments as two flights were scheduled to take off and land on the same runway at Syracuse Hancock International Airport.
Two flights at Syracuse Hancock International Airport came dangerously close to colliding on Monday morning, prompting an investigation by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
Air traffic control audio released this week captured the tense moments as an American Eagle pilot preparing to land inquired about a Delta Connection flight that had been cleared for takeoff on the same runway.
American Eagle and Delta Flights Come Close to Collision on Syracuse Runway
"Delta 5421. Ready for the sky. Runway 2-8 ready for takeoff," the Delta Connection pilot with 76 passengers on board said around 11:50 a.m. Monday. An air traffic controller then cleared the flight for takeoff.
"Wait, who's cleared to take off on 2-8?" American Eagle Flight 5511's pilot, carrying 75 passengers, asked.
American Eagle and Delta Flights Come Close to Collision on Syracuse Runway
Air traffic control immediately instructed the American Eagle pilot to "go around," averting a potential collision.
According to Flight Aware, the two planes came within 700 to 1,000 feet of each other. FlightRadar24 data indicates that this distance is approximately equivalent to two football fields.
American Eagle and Delta Flights Come Close to Collision on Syracuse Runway
"An air traffic controller instructed PSA Airlines 5511 to go around at Syracuse Hancock International Airport to keep it separated from an aircraft that was departing on the same runway," an FAA spokesperson told Fox News Digital.
The FAA is currently investigating the incident to determine the closest proximity of the aircraft.
American Eagle and Delta Flights Come Close to Collision on Syracuse Runway
Delta Airlines, the parent company of Endeavor Air which operates the Delta Connection flight, released a statement saying, "Endeavor Air and Delta will work with aviation authorities as we always do in our shared commitment to [put] safety above all else."
The Syracuse airport reported no disruptions to operations on Monday.
This incident comes amid a record-breaking week of summer holiday travel. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) set a new record for the most travelers screened in a single day on July 7, with 3,013,413 passengers passing through checkpoints nationwide.
The Delta Connection flight eventually landed at LaGuardia Airport on time without incident, while the American Eagle flight landed safely at Syracuse after executing the go-around maneuver.
The FAA's investigation is ongoing, and the results will help determine the cause of the near-collision and prevent similar incidents in the future.
