A frightening moment unfolded at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York on Monday when a Republic Airways flight came perilously close to colliding with an Air Canada jet, according to the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration.
The incident marks another troubling safety concern at one of North America's busiest airports, where air traffic control challenges have become increasingly visible in recent months.
How the Near-Miss Happened
Federal officials say the Republic Airways pilots missed their intended approach and flew dangerously close to the Air Canada aircraft. Both flight crews were alerted to the hazard through onboard safety systems and took immediate evasive action to prevent a collision.
The exact distance between the two planes has not been disclosed, but the FAA's classification as a "near-miss" indicates the aircraft came closer than safe operating standards permit.
Growing Safety Concerns at Major U.S. Airports
This incident arrives on the heels of a tragic collision last month when an Air Canada jet struck a fire truck at LaGuardia Airport in New York, killing two Canadian pilots. That disaster brought heightened scrutiny to airport operations and safety procedures across the region.
The back-to-back incidents have reignited debate about operational pressures facing air traffic control systems in the United States. The Federal Aviation Administration has struggled for years with staffing shortages, a situation compounded when controllers worked without pay during government funding lapses.
Systemic Challenges in the Skies
Industry experts have long warned that understaffing in air traffic control poses real risks to aviation safety. Controllers manage increasingly complex flight schedules while dealing with fatigue and compensation gaps that make recruitment and retention difficult.
The incidents also highlight the importance of modern collision avoidance systems, which functioned as designed in Monday's near-miss and likely prevented a catastrophic outcome.
Air Canada has not yet issued a public statement regarding the incident. The FAA continues to investigate the circumstances that led to the Republic Airways flight missing its intended approach.
This report is based on information from CBC World and the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration.