A dramatic video has captured a near-collision between two major commercial airliners over Syracuse, New York. The incident, recorded by a dash camera from a North Syracuse Police Department patrol car, occurred late Monday morning, July 8.
The close encounter stemmed from an apparent air traffic control error that cleared one plane to depart from Syracuse Hancock International Airport while another was cleared to land on the same runway. According to news reports, controllers initially cleared American Eagle Flight AA5511, a Bombardier CRJ-700 operated by PSA Airlines, to land on runway 28. Moments later, they gave Delta Connection DL5421, another CRJ-700 operated by Endeavor Air, permission to depart from the same runway.
The video shows both planes approaching from different directions, appearing dangerously close to each other in the air near Syracuse Hancock Airport. According to FlightRadar24, the planes came within 700-1,000 feet of each other vertically. The Delta flight carried 76 passengers, while the American Airlines flight had 75. Fortunately, passengers on both planes were unharmed.
In a statement, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) explained, “An air traffic controller instructed Blue Streak Flight 5511 to go around at Syracuse Hancock International Airport to keep it safely separated from an aircraft that was departing on the same runway.” A spokesperson for Syracuse Hancock International Airport confirmed, “There were no disruptions to airport operations today.”
The FAA is conducting a thorough investigation to determine how such a critical mistake occurred and to ensure enhanced safety protocols moving forward. Delta, in a statement to CBS News, emphasized, “Endeavor Air and Delta will work with aviation authorities as we always do in our shared commitment to safety above all else.”
