Near Misses, Crashes, and Chaos: US Airspace in Crisis?

2025-02-27 06:02:50.869

An American Airlines flight aborted its landing at Ronald Reagan National Airport to avoid a collision with another aircraft. This incident, along with a near-miss at Chicago Midway International Airport involving a Southwest flight and a private jet, and a series of recent crashes, has sparked safety concerns. The American Airlines flight, approaching the runway, was instructed to perform a go-around to maintain separation from a departing plane. While the go-around was a standard maneuver, passengers described the experience as terrifying. The near-miss at Chicago Midway involved a private jet crossing the runway as a Southwest flight was landing. The US Transportation Secretary stated that pilots who fail to follow air traffic control instructions will have their licenses revoked. These incidents follow a deadly midair collision near Reagan National Airport, a Medevac crash in Philadelphia, a regional airline crash in Alaska, and a Delta plane crash in Toronto. Experts and lawmakers have expressed concerns about the crowded airspace above Washington, D.C., citing security measures, military and government flights, and the busy runway at Reagan National Airport. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating these incidents, along with the FAA.