Two planes nearly collide on Logan Airport runway

FAA investigating incident involving Delta flight

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is investigating a near miss on a Logan Airport runway in Boston on Sunday after one plane was about to take off when another plane crossed in its path. A passenger on the Delta flight said the plane hit the brakes seconds before takeoff, narrowly avoiding a collision with the other aircraft, which was approximately 200 yards away.

Why it matters

Near-collisions on airport runways are extremely dangerous and can have catastrophic consequences. This incident raises concerns about air traffic control coordination and safety protocols at one of the busiest airports in the Northeast.

The details

The near-collision occurred while it was snowing in Boston. The Delta flight, operated by Republic Airways, had about 100 people on board and was headed for New York's JFK airport. The passenger said the plane was seconds into its takeoff roll when the pilots slammed on the brakes to avoid hitting the other aircraft that had crossed into their path.

  • The incident happened on Sunday morning.

The players

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)

The U.S. government agency responsible for the regulation and oversight of civil aviation.

Republic Airways

An American airline that operates regional flights for major carriers like Delta.

Logan Airport

One of the busiest airports in the Northeastern United States, located in Boston, Massachusetts.

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What they’re saying

“It was a fast enough takeoff that as we started down you were pushed back in your seat, which is always kind of fun. And then after two seconds, the plane came to a halting stop, brakes were hit hard.”

— Passenger (WHDH)

“It was a pretty close call. Complete disaster averted. This was one of those days when you say, 'yeah, maybe there really is for sure a God,'”

— Passenger (WHDH)

“Our pilots were heroes. It could have, and I imagine many cases would have, been a disaster. These guys were great.”

— Passenger (WHDH)

What’s next

The FAA said it is investigating the incident to determine the cause and whether any safety protocols were violated.

The takeaway

This near-miss at one of the country's busiest airports underscores the critical importance of robust air traffic control systems and safety procedures to prevent catastrophic collisions, even in challenging weather conditions.