Alaska Airlines, FedEx Planes Nearly Collide at Newark Airport

Radar data shows planes came within 300 feet of each other on intersecting runways

Mar. 20, 2026 at 1:55am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

An Alaska Airlines 737 and a FedEx 777 cargo plane narrowly avoided a collision as they attempted to land on intersecting runways at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey on Tuesday evening. Air traffic control told the Alaska plane to abort its landing just 150 feet from the ground, while the FedEx plane continued its approach on the crossing runway. Preliminary data shows the planes came within 300 to 325 feet of each other.

Why it matters

Near-miss incidents at major airports raise serious concerns about air traffic control procedures and coordination, as well as the potential for catastrophic accidents that could result in loss of life and disruption to air travel. This event will likely prompt investigations by the FAA and NTSB to determine the cause and recommend any necessary changes to improve safety.

The details

According to radar data from FlightRadar24, the Alaska Airlines flight was arriving from Portland, Oregon, while the FedEx cargo plane was arriving from Memphis, Tennessee. Air traffic control told the Alaska plane to go around just seconds before it was set to touch down, when it was only 150 feet in the air. Meanwhile, the FedEx plane continued its landing on the intersecting runway.

  • The incident occurred around 8:17 p.m. on Tuesday, March 19, 2026.

The players

Alaska Airlines

A major U.S. airline headquartered in Seattle, Washington.

FedEx

A leading global courier delivery services company headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee.

Newark Liberty International Airport

A major international airport located in Newark, New Jersey, serving the New York metropolitan area.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We must investigate this incident thoroughly to determine what went wrong and ensure it does not happen again.”

— Robert Jones, Aviation Safety Expert

What’s next

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will likely launch investigations into the incident to identify the causes and recommend any necessary changes to air traffic control procedures or airport infrastructure to prevent similar near-misses in the future.

The takeaway

This near-collision at Newark Airport is a stark reminder of the critical importance of robust air traffic control systems and coordination between pilots and controllers to maintain the highest levels of aviation safety, even at the busiest airports.