American Airlines flight forced to abort landing at Reagan National Airport to avoid another plane

An American Airlines flight arriving at Ronald Reagan National Airport was forced to abort its landing Tuesday to avoid another aircraft, less than a month after a midair collision near the same airport and roughly 90 minutes before a close call in Chicago. The incident occurred around 8:20 a.m. as American Airlines Flight 2246 from Boston was preparing to land. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said air traffic control instructed the flight to perform a go-around to “ensure separation was maintained between this aircraft and a preceding departure from the same runway.” A go-around is a routine maneuver allowing an aircraft to safely make an alternate landing. Flight 2246 eventually landed safely. American Airlines stated Tuesday’s go-around was a standard maneuver “to allow another aircraft more time for takeoff.” The closest Flight 2246 came laterally to the departing plane was about 1.25 miles, and its lowest altitude was 450 feet. Later that day, at Chicago Midway International Airport, a Southwest Airlines flight was also forced to abort its landing at the last minute as a private jet crossed its approaching runway. Officials are investigating these incidents.