Two aircraft came within about 500 feet of each other while approaching John F. Kennedy International Airport on Monday, according to flight-tracking data and air-traffic control audio cited by ABC7.
Flightradar24 data cited by ABC7 showed the planes were separated by roughly 475 feet vertically as their paths crossed. The tracking data put the Endeavor Air aircraft at about 2,100 feet and the Cirrus SR22 at about 2,575 feet, ABC7 reported.
The Federal Aviation Administration said Endeavor Air Flight 5289 was on final approach to Runway 22L around 5:15 p.m. Monday when a Cirrus SR22 crossed overhead while preparing to land on Runway 22R. “Air traffic control provided traffic advisories to both pilots, and each reported the other in sight,” the FAA said. “The required separation was maintained.”
Air-traffic control audio captured by ABC7 includes a controller telling the Endeavor pilot, “Endeavor 5289 yeah I’m not talking to him. He’s 500 feet above you now left to right half a mile in front of you,” and a pilot reply: “And tower Endeavor 5289 he just flew about 500 feet right over so looks like he’s taking a left turn now.” ABC7 also reported the Endeavor crew received a resolution advisory from the aircraft’s collision-avoidance system.
Monday’s close call followed a separate incident Sunday in New Jersey in which a United Airlines flight struck a light pole and damaged a bakery truck during descent, news reports said. The 221 passengers and 10 crew members aboard were not injured and the plane landed safely, the reports said. The recent incidents have drawn scrutiny from federal regulators and lawmakers, Fox News Digital reported. Fox News Digital said it reached out to the FAA, Delta and Cirrus for comment.
Jon Ross Myers is the executive editor and publisher of the Mississippi News Network, Mississippi's largest digital only media company. He can be reached at editor@tippahnews.com
