A recent near miss involving two passenger planes at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport has placed renewed focus on runway safety in the United States. The incident is the latest in a series of airport close calls, emphasizing concerns over runway incursions and airport surface safety.
Analysis by Newsweek using Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) data shows that several major airports have experienced hundreds of runway-incursion events since 2001. This data covers over 35,000 incidents across 530 U.S. airports. A significant drop in runway incursions occurred in 2025, decreasing by 8% from the previous year, attributed to safety technologies and outreach efforts.
Understanding Runway Incursions
The FAA defines runway incursions as incidents where an aircraft, vehicle, or person is improperly located on a protected runway area. These events range from low-risk occurrences to serious close calls. Large hub airports like Chicago O’Hare, Los Angeles International, and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta often report higher totals due to the sheer volume of aircraft movements.
Recent Near Misses and Collisions
On July 27, two Delta Air Lines planes averted a collision at Atlanta when an arriving aircraft executed a go-around due to another slow-moving departure. The FAA has initiated an investigation, though no injuries were reported.
Similar incidents have occurred across various airports over the past two years. Notably, in March 2026, an accident at LaGuardia Airport involving an Air Canada Express plane and a fire truck resulted in fatalities and injuries. Another critical incident at Atlanta in 2024 involved a collision between Delta and Virgin Atlantic planes, causing significant damage.
Statistical Insights
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) tracks aviation incidents, including runway incursions. While major crashes remain rare, incidents occur more frequently, with FAA data confirming over 35,000 events since 2001. Most do not result in fatalities.
The NTSB investigates collisions like one in January 2025, near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, where an American Eagle jet collided with a helicopter, resulting in fatalities.
Addressing Runway Safety
Runway incursions draw increasing attention from aviation regulators. These incidents, categorized by severity, have prompted calls for improved safety measures. Despite appearing frequently in data, large airports are not inherently more dangerous but face greater risks due to higher traffic volumes.
Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, and New York have seen multiple surface incidents recently, prompting questions about operational complexities and safety protocols. Federal regulators and the NTSB see runway incursions as a critical safety issue, recognizing that ground mistakes can lead to severe consequences.