FAA investigates near-miss between American Eagle & Delta Connection jets

Both aircraft involved were Mitsubishi CRJ900s, registered as N555NN (PSA Airlines) and N927XJ (Endeavor Air). A car dashboard camera captured the incident, with footage later shared on X, formerly known as Twitter. The PSA Airlines aircraft initiated a go-around while the Endeavor Air jet was departing.

Air traffic control (ATC) archives showed that an SYR tower-based controller initially cleared the American Eagle aircraft to land on runway 28. Moments later, the same controller cleared the Endeavor Air jet to take off from SYR. Pilots of both flights read back these instructions.

Investigators noted that the two aircraft were separated vertically by 700 feet (213.3 meters).

Shortly after clearance for departure was given to Endeavor Air, the pilot of the PSA Airlines CRJ900 questioned who was cleared to take off from runway 28. The controller then instructed PSA Airlines’ pilots to abort their landing approach and go around.

An FAA spokesperson confirmed that they have begun investigating the incident and stated that the controller instructed PSA Airlines' CRJ900 to initiate a go-around for separation from Endeavor Air's jet.

Flightradar24 records indicated that during its initial approach at 11:51 local time (UTC -4), the PSA Airlines aircraft descended to 675 feet (205.7 meters) before climbing immediately to 1,925 ft (601.9 m) within a minute and turning left off the runway. At this time, Endeavor Air’s CRJ900 began climbing as well, reaching an altitude of 1,300 ft (396.2 m) at 11:52 before continuing its climb and eventually reaching LGA without further incident. The PSA Airlines flight successfully landed at SYR at 3:59 PM and taxied to its gate upon arrival.

While fewer near-miss incidents have been reported in recent months in the US—with at least 19 identified by the FAA in 2023—there have been instances where aircraft came close to collisions.

For example, in April, a Swiss International Air Lines Airbus A330-30 registered as HB-JHD aborted its takeoff run from New York John F. Kennedy International Airport after three other aircraft entered its runway crossing path despite being cleared for takeoff.