Expert Warning After Two Planes Come Within 300 Feet of Each Other at Boston Logan Airport

A near-miss incident at Boston Logan International Airport on June 20, 2026 has prompted serious concern among aviation safety experts and is now under formal investigation by US aviation authorities. A Delta Air Lines Airbus A319, operating flight DL2351 from Dallas-Fort Worth, was on final approach to runway 33L when it came within approximately 300 feet — roughly 90 meters — of another aircraft. The second aircraft was on the runway or in a conflicting approach path, creating a situation that experts described as dangerously close to a catastrophic outcome.

According to an aviation expert cited by The Guardian, the separation that occurred was far below the minimum required margins under standard instrument approach procedures. The pilot of the Delta aircraft was forced to execute a go-around, aborting the landing and climbing back to a safe altitude. No injuries were reported, but the incident has reignited a broader debate about the safety of operations at congested US airports.

Boston Logan is known as one of the more complex airports in the United States, with multiple crossing runways and a challenging approach environment affected by coastal weather patterns, including fog and strong crosswinds. The airport has seen a significant increase in traffic in recent years as New England travel demand has grown.

The incident follows a series of similar close-call events at American airports over the past 18 months, several of which have been attributed to a combination of air traffic controller staffing shortages, pilot fatigue, and increasing traffic volumes. The FAA has acknowledged a nationwide staffing gap in its air traffic control workforce and has been working to accelerate hiring and training programs. Safety advocates argue that these measures are not moving quickly enough to address the systemic risk that growing air traffic poses at major hubs.