NTSB Investigates Alaska Airlines & FedEx Near-Miss at Newark Airport

Federal authorities have launched an investigation into a significant close call at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) involving an Alaska Airlines passenger jet and a FedEx cargo aircraft. The incident occurred on the evening of Tuesday, March 17, 2026, when the two aircraft came within an estimated 300-325 feet of each other on intersecting runways, prompting an urgent go-around order from Air Traffic Control (ATC).

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) are both investigating the event, which adds to a growing list of serious runway incursions and near-misses at major U.S. airports. The incident places further scrutiny on ATC operations, particularly in complex and busy airspace like the New York metropolitan area, amid ongoing concerns about controller staffing shortages and operational strain.

According to an FAA statement, the event took place at approximately 8:15 p.m. local time. Alaska Airlines Flight 294, a Boeing 737 MAX 9 carrying 171 passengers and 6 crew members, was on final approach to Runway 22L. Simultaneously, FedEx Flight 721, a Boeing 777F, was cleared for takeoff on the intersecting Runway 29. Realizing the potential for conflict, an air traffic controller issued a go-around instruction to the Alaska Airlines crew. Flight tracking data from Flightradar24, based on Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) signals, indicates the Alaska 737 MAX 9 climbed from 300 to 325 feet as it passed directly over the FedEx 777F. An Alaska Airlines spokesperson stated, "Air traffic control issued a go-around to our aircraft, which our pilots are highly trained for." FedEx confirmed its crew "followed instructions from air traffic control and landed safely without incident."

Regulatory and Industry Context

The investigation falls under the NTSB's Aviation Incident Investigation Protocols and the FAA's review of Intersecting Runway Operations and Visual Separation Directives. This event is not an isolated one. It reflects a troubling industry trend of rising runway incursions, following a series of serious close calls in 2023 and a fatal mid-air collision in January 2025 that led to congressional hearings. The backdrop to these events includes persistent shortages of certified air traffic controllers, which the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) argues contributes to systemic risk through forced overtime and increased operational pressure.

Historical Precedents

This Newark incident bears a strong resemblance to a near-collision in February 2023 in Austin, Texas. In that event, a FedEx cargo plane and a Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 came within 100 feet of each other after an ATC sequencing error. The NTSB's investigation found that a lack of critical safety technology and incorrect controller assumptions were the primary causes—a pattern that investigators will likely examine in the current EWR case. Furthermore, the regulatory environment for this investigation was shaped by the fatal January 2025 mid-air collision between an American Airlines jet and an Army helicopter near Washington, D.C. That crash, which resulted in 67 fatalities, prompted the NTSB to issue dozens of urgent recommendations regarding ATC procedures and visual separation rules, significantly heightening FAA and NTSB scrutiny.

Stakeholder Impact

The incident will have immediate and significant consequences for several key groups. For ATC personnel at EWR, the event will trigger intense scrutiny of their sequencing procedures for intersecting runways, likely resulting in mandatory retraining and procedural reviews. At a national level, the FAA Air Traffic Organization (ATO) faces renewed congressional and public pressure to address chronic controller staffing shortages and accelerate the deployment of advanced surface detection technology. The flight crews from Alaska Airlines and FedEx will be central to the NTSB investigation, participating in detailed interviews and internal safety reviews to analyze their response to the critical ATC instructions.

Technical Analysis

This runway conflict is symptomatic of systemic strain within the U.S. National Airspace System. While the successful go-around demonstrates that safety protocols can work as a last line of defense, the event itself suggests that safety margins are eroding due to persistent understaffing and operational complexity. The incident at EWR reinforces the trajectory established by the 2023 Austin near-miss and the 2025 DCA collision, indicating that despite heightened regulatory focus, the root causes of these conflicts—particularly human factors under pressure and airspace design limitations—remain critical vulnerabilities. The reliance on last-second ATC interventions, rather than systemic prevention, points to a fragility that regulators are now under immense pressure to resolve.

What Comes Next

The NTSB has begun its formal investigation. According to the agency's standard timeline, a preliminary report detailing the initial facts of the incident is expected to be published by April 2026. The comprehensive final report, which will include a probable cause determination and any associated safety recommendations, is expected to take between 12 and 24 months, with an anticipated release between March 2027 and March 2028.

Why This Matters

This near-miss at a major U.S. hub airport is more than a single operational failure; it is a critical data point in the ongoing debate about the health and resilience of the nation's aviation infrastructure. The event intensifies pressure on the FAA and Congress to move beyond reactive measures and implement systemic solutions to address air traffic controller staffing, training, and technology. For the industry, it serves as a stark reminder of the latent risks in high-density operations and the critical importance of crew training in preventing potential catastrophes.

Stay ahead of the airline industry with commercial aviation news from omniflights.com. Follow aviation sustainability efforts, emissions research, and green initiatives in the Environmental section at omniflights.com/environmental.