During a Senate Committee hearing on Tuesday, Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) credited a Delta Air Lines flight crew for helping avoid a catastrophic collision at Boston’s Logan Airport.
The hearing, titled “Close calls: Improving safety across the national airspace system,” referenced the near-collision between a Delta Air Lines aircraft and an American Airlines aircraft.
“The crew of the Delta flight spotted the American Boeing 737 and executed a go-around to avoid a collision, saving the lives of the 129 passengers and six crew members on board,” Duckworth said, according to CBS News.
“U.S Federal Aviation Administration is investigating a close call between two aircraft at Boston Logan International Airport on Saturday. The FAA said the crew of Delta Air Lines Flight 2351, Airbus A319, executed a go-around at Boston’s airport around 11:30 a.m. because another aircraft (AA3161 Boeing 737-823) was departing from an intersecting runway,” Breaking Aviation News & Videos wrote.
“A Delta spokesperson, who noted nothing is more important than safety, confirmed the crew of Flight 2351 followed established procedures in coordination with Air Traffic Control and performed a go-around on approach into Logan Airport,” it added.
Listen to the ATC audio below:
U.S Federal Aviation Administration is investigating a close call between two aircraft at Boston Logan International Airport on Saturday.
The FAA said the crew of Delta Air Lines Flight 2351, Airbus A319, executed a go-around at Boston’s airport around 11:30 a.m. because another… pic.twitter.com/1iflTBnfQG
— Breaking Aviation News & Videos (@aviationbrk) June 21, 2026
CBS News shared further:
CBS News senior transportation correspondent Kris Van Cleave reported that the jets were an estimated 300 feet apart.
“In far too many of these incidents, the difference between a close call and a deadly disaster has come down to a single, highly trained and professional individual taking emergency action,” Duckworth said.
Air traffic control audio of the incident suggested that the air traffic controllers may have lost track of the American flight headed to Charlotte, North Carolina after clearing it for takeoff. Sen. Jerry Moran, a Kansas Republican, also made note of the close call in his opening remarks.
“While the flight landed safely and no one was injured, the incident serves again as a reminder of why continued vigilance and safety improvements across the national airspace system remain essential,” he said.
“The FAA is again investigating a close call that occurred after a commercial flight, carrying more than 100 passengers, had to abort its landing to avoid colliding with another commercial flight at Boston Logan International Airport on Saturday,” Moran said on Monday.
“Tomorrow, I’m holding a @SenateCommerce Aviation Subcommittee hearing to examine the growing concern shared by industry, government & traveling public on the numerous close calls we’ve seen in recent years across the U.S. It is critical that we address the challenges facing our aviation system and improve the procedures and technologies that keep the flying public safe,” he added.
The FAA is again investigating a close call that occurred after a commercial flight, carrying more than 100 passengers, had to abort its landing to avoid colliding with another commercial flight at Boston Logan International Airport on Saturday.
Tomorrow, I’m holding a…
— Senator Jerry Moran (@JerryMoran) June 22, 2026
CBS Mornings provided additional coverage:
Two aircraft came within an estimated 300 feet of each other at Boston’s Logan Airport on Saturday, when an American Airlines jet was cleared to take off on a runway that crossed another where a Delta Air Lines jet was about to land.
The FAA is investigating the incident. pic.twitter.com/F1DP2A7HFi
— CBS Mornings (@CBSMornings) June 22, 2026
More from the New York Post:
An airline spokesperson said the crew “received an advisory from onboard systems of potential traffic,” the Boston Globe reported.
“Delta aircraft are equipped with technology to warn crews of potential conflicts with other aircraft and our pilots train extensively to respond,” Anthony Black, a spokesperson, said.
The American Airlines plane – a Boeing 737-823 aircraft – was departing for Charlotte at the time of the scare.
The carrier referred requests for comment to the Federal Aviation Administration.
Go-arounds are safe, routine procedures performed at the discretion of the pilot or air traffic controllers, according to the FAA.