Air Canada Jet Nearly Collides With American Airlines Flight at JFK

Travellers are seen in the check-in area at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in New York City on May 7, 2025. Jeenah Moon/Reuters

An American Airlines-operated flight veered off its landing path on approach to the John F. Kennedy International Airport, resulting in a near-collision with an Air Canada aircraft.

Jazz Aviation Flight 554, operating for Air Canada Express, had been cleared to land on Runway 31R when Republic Airways Flight 4464, operating for American Airlines, deviated from its assigned approach path. The American flight had been approaching parallel Runway 31L.

In cockpit audio provided to ABC News, air traffic controllers can be heard addressing the Republic Airways crew using the airline’s call sign, BRICKYARD.

“BRICKYARD 44, you’re flying through the approach course on Runway 31 Left. Correct immediately. You have traffic in the immediate vicinity at your three o’clock. High, 2,000 feet.”

In a separate recording from the Air Canada cockpit, warning alarms can be heard sounding as controllers alert the crew to the danger. One of the pilots can then be heard confirming that the aircraft’s Traffic Collision Avoidance System Resolution Advisory (TCAS RA) had activated.

TCAS RA is an automated last-resort safety warning system that issues immediate vertical maneuver commands to pilots to help avoid a collision.

“The traffic off your left is overshooting the parallel,” the controller says.

“TCAS RA,” the pilot responds.

“Yeah, that guy overshot the final, Jazz 554,” the controller says.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said in a statement that it is investigating the incident.

The close call comes amid a series of recent aviation safety incidents that have intensified scrutiny of airport operations and air traffic control systems across the United States, including a fatal collision at New York’s LaGuardia Airport last month.

Air Canada Express Flight 8646 struck a fire truck while attempting to land at LaGuardia shortly before midnight on March 22, killing both pilots and injuring roughly 40 passengers.

The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said on its website that investigators were collecting data, examining air traffic control procedures, and reviewing staffing levels. A preliminary report is expected within 30 days of the crash.

NTSB Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy told reporters during a news conference on April 21 that the airport’s safety-critical surface radar detection system, known as ASDE-X, did not issue an alert because the fire truck lacked a transponder that transmits a vehicle’s location.

In another recent near-miss, United Airlines Flight 589 was on approach to John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana, California, last month when a Sikorsky Black Hawk helicopter crossed in front of the jet’s flight path, according to the FAA.

The FAA said it is investigating whether that incident violated its new policy barring visual separation for helicopters operating near major airports.

“A thorough review will be conducted in coordination with the appropriate agencies,” the National Guard said.

The pilots of the United flight had been advised by air traffic control to watch for a military helicopter in the area. After visually identifying it, the pilots responded by leveling the aircraft before landing safely.

Separately, the FAA said in an April 10 statement that it is launching a new hiring campaign aimed at video gamers as the agency seeks to address a significant nationwide shortage of air traffic controllers that worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“This campaign’s innovative communication style and focus on gaming taps into a growing demographic of young adults who have many of the hard skills it takes to be a successful controller,” Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said.