Federal authorities, including the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), are conducting an investigation into a troubling near-miss incident that took place at Newark Liberty International Airport. The incident occurred when an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 nearly overflew a FedEx Boeing 777 as both aircraft were attempting to land on intersecting runways. Initial reports indicate that around 8:15 p.m. local time, air traffic control instructed the Alaska Airlines flight to execute a 'go-around' to avoid a potential collision with the FedEx plane, which was cleared to land on the parallel runway.

The Alaska Airlines jet was following instructions from the air traffic control when the conflict arose. Fortunately, the FedEx cargo flight was able to land safely without any incident, and the crew followed the proper procedures as directed by air traffic control. This event has raised significant concerns about air traffic management safety protocols, particularly at one of the busiest airports in the United States.

Given the high volume of air traffic operations at Newark, the FAA's ongoing scrutiny and investigations like these are crucial to ensure passenger and crew safety. Such incidents not only highlight potential gaps in communication and procedural adherence among flight crews and air traffic controllers but also underscore the importance of continual evaluations of safety measures at major airports to prevent accidents in the future.