NEW YORK- The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) launched an investigation after an American Airlines (AA) regional jet and an Air Canada (AC) regional jet came dangerously close to each other during parallel runway approaches at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) on Monday afternoon.
The two Embraer E175 aircraft, operated by Republic Airways Flight 4464 for American Airlines and Jazz Aviation Flight 8554 for Air Canada, were separated by approximately 350 feet vertically and 0.62 miles horizontally at their closest point before onboard collision warnings triggered evasive action.
The incident occurred around 2:30 p.m. local time when the Republic Airways jet, arriving from Indianapolis (IND), deviated from its assigned approach path during a go-around maneuver and drifted into the flight path of the Jazz Aviation jet, arriving from Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ).
Both flight crews responded to Traffic Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) resolution advisories, executed go-arounds, and landed safely on subsequent attempts at JFK, the NY Times reported.
FAA Probes Near Miss at JFK
The sequence of events began when the Republic Airways E175, operating as American Airlines Flight 4464, aborted its initial landing attempt and performed a go-around.
A go-around is a standard aviation safety procedure where pilots abandon a landing approach, increase engine power, climb to a safe altitude, and reposition for another attempt.
During this maneuver, the aircraft strayed from its intended approach path and moved into the airspace of the adjacent parallel runway.
The Jazz Aviation E175, operating as Air Canada Express Flight 8554, had already received clearance to land on that parallel runway. As the two aircraft converged, TCAS alerts activated in both cockpits, directing the pilots to take immediate evasive action.
Flightradar24 tracking data showed the Republic Airways jet made a sharp left turn after coming close to the Air Canada aircraft.
The Republic Airways E175 descended approximately 600 feet within seconds as it passed over Long Beach, while the Jazz Aviation aircraft climbed sharply by nearly 1,000 feet.
Republic Airways confirmed its crew received the resolution advisory and followed established procedures.
The airline stated that the pilots complied with the advisory and executed a go-around consistent with training protocols. Jazz Aviation similarly confirmed its flight crew took immediate action after receiving onboard warnings along with direction from air traffic controllers. Both flights landed safely without further incident.
The FAA cautioned that all information surrounding the incident remains preliminary. Federal investigators are now reviewing air traffic control communications, radar surveillance records, aircraft flight data, and pilot actions to determine the root cause and whether procedural changes are necessary.
Second Near Miss in Days Raises Safety Alarm
The JFK incident marked the second near miss involving commercial aircraft in the United States within a matter of days.
On Saturday evening, the FAA opened a separate investigation after two Southwest Airlines (WN) Boeing 737s came within approximately 500 feet of each other at Nashville International Airport (BNA).
In the Nashville incident, Southwest Flight 507 from Myrtle Beach (MYR) was approaching BNA for landing amid gusty winds when the pilots decided to execute a precautionary go-around.
During the maneuver, an air traffic controller directed the aircraft onto a path that brought it dangerously close to Southwest Flight 1152, which was departing from a parallel runway bound for Knoxville (TYS).
Both cockpits received resolution advisories, and the pilots took evasive action. Flight 507 landed safely on its second attempt, while Flight 1152 continued to its destination without incident.
A retired air traffic controller with over 20 years of experience told local media that the Nashville controller lost awareness of the departing Southwest aircraft during the go-around. He pointed to chronic understaffing as a core factor, noting that BNA operates with just 28 controllers out of an allotted 52 positions.
ATC Shortage Fuels Growing Safety Concerns
These back-to-back incidents spotlight a systemic challenge that aviation safety experts and federal regulators have flagged for years: a nationwide shortage of air traffic controllers. The FAA currently employs approximately 3,500 fewer fully certified controllers than its own staffing models recommend.
More than 40% of the agency’s 290 terminal facilities are understaffed, and 19 of the 30 largest facilities operate below 85% of their staffing targets. Those 19 facilities alone account for roughly 40% of all flight delays in the National Airspace System.
The United States has about 25% fewer controllers today than it did in 1981, yet the system handles nearly three times the air traffic volume.
Retirements from the hiring wave of the 1980s, interruptions in training during government shutdowns, and a lengthy certification pipeline that takes three to five years have combined to create a persistent staffing gap.
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) reported in December 2025 that only about 2% of all applicants ultimately become certified professional controllers.
The FAA has accelerated hiring efforts, targeting at least 8,900 new controllers through 2028. The agency exceeded its hiring goals in fiscal years 2024 and 2025, and plans to bring on more than 2,200 controllers in fiscal year 2026. However, net gains remain modest because attrition from retirements, washouts, and transfers continues to offset new hires.
A Pattern of Aviation Safety Scares in 2026
The JFK and Nashville near misses add to an alarming pattern of aviation safety incidents across the United States in 2026.
Last month, an Air Canada Express CRJ-900 operated by Jazz Aviation collided with a Port Authority fire truck on the runway at LaGuardia Airport (LGA) in New York.
The collision killed both pilots, Captain Antoine Forest and First Officer Mackenzie Gunther, and injured dozens of passengers and crew. The NTSB investigation revealed that the fire truck lacked a transponder for air traffic control tracking, and the tower controller was heard saying on frequency that the error was theirs.
These incidents have intensified scrutiny from lawmakers and safety regulators. Congressional hearings in early 2026 drew testimony from FAA leadership and the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) about the toll of chronic understaffing on controller performance and well-being.
Controllers at understaffed facilities routinely work mandatory six-day workweeks and back-to-back overnight shifts, raising fatigue and safety concerns that go beyond scheduling complaints.
The FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 introduced new hiring authorities and retention incentives. A supplemental funding proposal in the House would allocate approximately $1.8 billion over five years to expand FAA Academy capacity and fund remote training technology.
However, aviation analysts caution that even with aggressive recruitment, the controller workforce will remain stretched as the busy summer 2026 travel season approaches, with passenger volumes expected to approach pre-pandemic highs.
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