Trending Now - Close Call: Alaska Airlines and Fedex Planes Nearly Collide at Newark
WHO:
There were 171 passengers and 6 crew members on board Alaska Airlines Flight 294.
Alaska Airlines, FedEx, National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
Alaska Airlines Flight 294, FedEx Flight 721
WHAT:
A FedEx spokesperson stated, "following instructions from air traffic control, the flight crew of FedEx flight 721 landed safely without incident at Newark Liberty International Airport."
An Alaska Airlines spokesperson mentioned, "Air traffic control issued a go around to our aircraft, which our pilots are highly trained for."
A near-miss incident occurred involving an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 and a FedEx Boeing 777.
The Alaska Airlines plane overflew the FedEx plane while both were attempting to land on intersecting runways.
The Alaska plane cleared the FedEx plane by just 300 to 325 feet.
Air traffic was briefly halted as a precaution, but operations have since resumed.
The FAA instructed Alaska Airlines Flight 294 to perform a "go-around" at about 8:15 p.m. local time.
WHERE:
Newark Liberty International Airport, New Jersey
WHEN:
The incident occurred on March 17th, 2026, at approximately 8:17 p.m. local time, according to radar data from FlightRadar24.
The incident occurred on March 17th, 2026, at approximately 8:15 p.m. local time.
The Alaska Airlines flight arrived from Portland, Oregon, and the FedEx flight arrived from Memphis, Tennessee.
WHY:
The incident is under investigation by the FAA and NTSB due to the close proximity of the two aircraft during landing.
The incident is under investigation by the FAA and NTSB due to the close proximity of the two aircraft during landing.
HOW:
Air traffic control audio indicated that the Alaska Airlines plane was just 150 feet in the air when instructed to go around.
Air traffic control audio indicated that the Alaska Airlines plane was just 150 feet in the air when instructed to go around.
(UPDATED March 20, 2026 09:10 UTC)
On March 17, 2026, at approximately 8:17 p.m. local time, an incident involving Alaska Airlines Flight 294, which had 171 passengers and 6 crew members on board, is currently under investigation by the FAA and NTSB due to the close proximity of the aircraft during landing. A FedEx spokesperson confirmed that their flight, FedEx 721, landed safely at Newark Liberty International Airport after following air traffic control instructions, while an Alaska Airlines spokesperson noted that their pilots were well-trained for the go-around maneuver issued by air traffic control when their plane was just 150 feet in the air. The situation has raised concerns, prompting a thorough review of the events surrounding the landing.
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(UPDATED March 20, 2026 01:27 UTC)
A near-miss incident occurred on March 17 at Newark Liberty International Airport, involving an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 and a FedEx Boeing 777, with the Alaska Airlines flight clearing the FedEx plane by just 300 to 325 feet while both were attempting to land on intersecting runways. The FAA instructed Alaska Airlines Flight 294 to perform a go-around at about 8:15 p.m. local time, and air traffic was briefly halted as a precaution, though operations have since resumed. The incident is currently under investigation by the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board due to the close proximity of the two aircraft during landing.