A dramatic near-miss incident took place above Syracuse, New York, when two planes came perilously close to colliding mid-air. The incident occurred on Monday, July 8th, afternoon and involved two flights carrying a combined total of 159 passengers.

The flights in question were Delta Air Lines flight 5421, operated by Endeavor Air, with 80 passengers, and American Airlines flight 5511, operated by American Eagle, carrying 79 passengers. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has launched an investigation into the incident, which appears to have been triggered by an air traffic control error.

Recordings of the communication between air traffic control and the pilots reveal that both flights were cleared to use the same runway simultaneously. The American Airlines flight was given clearance to land on runway 28 just as the Delta flight was cleared for takeoff from the same runway. The error was first noticed by the American Airlines pilot, who questioned, “Wait, who’s cleared to take off on 28?”

Upon realizing the mistake, air traffic control urgently instructed the American Airlines flight to “take to the sky” and perform a go-around maneuver to avoid the departing Delta flight. Although a collision was averted, the two planes came dangerously close, a scene captured in a tense dashcam video recorded by the North Syracuse Police Department.

The video footage reveals the American Airlines plane descending as the Delta flight ascended, with the two aircraft appearing on a collision course. At their closest, they were separated by just 725 feet (220 meters), with the American Airlines flight passing directly over the Delta aircraft. A police officer, observing the incident from the ground, pointed towards the sky in apparent alarm.

Following the close call, the American Airlines plane veered off to the side, avoiding the Delta flight’s path. This critical moment, captured on the dashcam, underscored the severity of the near-miss.

The FAA’s investigation aims to uncover the circumstances that led to this potentially catastrophic mistake at Syracuse Hancock International Airport. In response to the incident, Delta Airlines emphasized their dedication to safety, stating, “We are working with aviation authorities as we always do in our shared commitment to safety above all else.”