WASHINGTON DC- An American Airlines (AA) flight from Boston (BOS) had to abort its landing at Washington, DC’s Reagan National Airport (DCA) to avoid a departing aircraft on the same runway.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed that air traffic control instructed the flight to perform a go-around to maintain safe separation between aircraft.
The airline clarified that the maneuver was standard procedure and not an emergency. However, the incident highlights ongoing safety concerns in U.S. airspace, with a similar close call occurring at Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) just 90 minutes later.
Photo: By Nathan Coats from Seattle, WA, United States of America – 02092018_American Airlines_A319_N9006_KMIA_NASEDIT, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=76838600American Airlines Flight Aborts Landing
On Tuesday morning at approximately 8:20 a.m., American Airlines (AA) Flight 2246 from Boston (BOS) was approaching its final descent into Reagan National Airport (DCA) when pilots aborts landing and execute a go-around as said by air traffic controller.
This maneuver was necessary to ensure a safe distance from another aircraft departing from the same runway.
A go-around is a routine action in aviation, used when conditions require an aircraft to abort its landing and circle back for another approach.
American Airlines (AA) emphasized that go-arounds are a key safety tool for both pilots and air traffic controllers, occurring frequently in air traffic management.
The airline has a “no-fault go-around policy,” meaning pilots are encouraged to prioritize safety without concern for operational repercussions.
FAA protocols require pilots to follow air traffic control instructions for spacing and separation, particularly at high-traffic airports like DCA.
The event, while sudden for passengers, was managed within standard aviation safety procedures.
Despite the procedural nature of the go-around, some passengers found the experience unsettling.
Itai Vardi, a traveler from Boston, described the maneuver as abrupt, adding that he was already apprehensive about flying into Reagan National Airport following a recent fatal Black Hawk helicopter crash in January.
The sudden altitude change and rapid acceleration may have felt alarming to those unfamiliar with go-arounds.
Photo: Wikicommons, Compounded by Aviation A2ZAnother Close Call in Chicago
Shortly after the DC incident, a Southwest Airlines (WN) flight approaching Midway International Airport (MDW) in Chicago had to execute a similar maneuver.
Flight 2504 from Omaha (OMA) was on final approach when a private business jet unexpectedly began taxiing across the runway.
The Southwest pilots responded by climbing immediately, passing just 250 feet above the private jet, according to preliminary flight data.
Southwest Airlines later confirmed that its crew performed a precautionary go-around to prevent a potential runway conflict.
Video footage of the event underscored the critical role of pilot vigilance and air traffic control coordination in preventing mid-air collisions.
Photo: By Anna Zvereva from Tallinn, Estonia – American Airlines, N804AW, Airbus A319-132, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=41996012Bottom Line
Both incidents highlight the importance of go-arounds as a proactive safety measure in aviation.
While these maneuvers can be unsettling for passengers, they are a standard and essential aspect of modern air traffic management.
Regulatory bodies, including the FAA, continue to monitor such events to ensure compliance with safety protocols and minimise risks in increasingly crowded airspace.
Stay tuned with us. Further, follow us on social media for the latest updates.
Join us on Telegram Group for the Latest Aviation Updates. Subsequently, follow us on Google News
American Airlines Plane Collided with Helicopter Near Reagan National Airport
The post American Airlines Aborts Landing at D.C. Airport to Avoid Crash appeared first on Aviation A2Z.
