A serious incident at Newark Liberty International Airport involved an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 nearly colliding with a FedEx Boeing 777 while attempting to land on intersecting runways. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) announced its investigation into the event which occurred as the Alaska Airlines flight was instructed to perform a go-around by air traffic control to avoid the FedEx plane that had been cleared for a final approach.

The sequence of events unfolded on a busy Tuesday night in the New York City area, emphasizing the critical nature of communication and coordination in air traffic management. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is also conducting its own investigation alongside the NTSB to ascertain the details that led to this potentially disastrous situation. Details regarding the altitude or the exact proximity between the two aircraft are still scant, but such incidents raise flags about airport safety protocols and air traffic control performance.

Alaska Airlines has stated that their flight was cleared to land prior to the go-around directive, highlighting the importance of procedural adherence for the safety of all passengers and crew. This incident not only reflects on the specifics of air traffic management in the Newark area but may also trigger broader discussions on aviation safety regulations and the necessity of continuous training for air traffic controllers to prevent future close-calls in such a busy airport environment.