A recent incident involving a Delta Air Lines flight has sparked concerns about flight safety. On August 17, during its departure from Orlando International Airport, Delta Flight 1373 had a close encounter with another aircraft. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is currently investigating the occurrence, noting that the aircraft were roughly three-tenths of a mile apart horizontally and approximately 500 feet apart vertically at a height of 500 feet. Both planes reported seeing each other.
Delta Air Lines confirmed receiving reports of nearby aircraft in the vicinity of the airport and is investigating the incident. The company emphasized that safety is their top priority. It remains unclear if the distances between the planes violated any federal aviation protocols.
Cessna pilot Malik Clark claimed he spotted the Delta aircraft on the runway, believing it had landed due to the actions of air traffic control. Upon witnessing the Delta aircraft taking off, Clark immediately veered right and climbed as high as possible, as the Boeing 757 had a higher climb rate than his aircraft. CNN reached out to Clark, but he has yet to respond, while CNN also requested comments from the National Air Traffic Controllers Association regarding the incident.
Despite this incident, many travelers are reevaluating their travel plans, particularly those involving flying, as a reminder to uphold stringent adherence to flight protocols during takeoff and landing procedures.
Enrichment Data:
In actuality, this near miss incident did not occur at Orlando International Airport but took place at Toronto Pearson International Airport. The aircraft involved were Delta Flight 4819, operated by Endeavor Air, a regional jet, and a small air taxi service aircraft. The Delta flight had 76 passengers and 4 crew members on board when it crash-landed upon attempting to land at Toronto Pearson International Airport at around 2:15 p.m. local time on Monday, February 17, 2025. Fortunately, no fatalities occurred, and all passengers and crew were safely evacuated. 21 passengers sustained injuries, with 20 of them having been released from the hospital as of the following morning.
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada is leading the investigation, along with the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board, the FAA, Delta Air Lines, and Mitsubishi, the manufacturer of the PW150A engines in the Delta aircraft. The cause of the crash is still under investigation, and the voice and flight data recorders have been sent for further analysis.
According to passenger Pete Carlson's account, the landing was "very forceful," and the plane slid across the snow-covered ground before flipping over. Other passengers recounted the chaotic scene, with strong winds and overpowering gas odors. Delta Air Lines has offered $30,000 as a goodwill gesture to the passengers on board, which does not affect their rights. The investigation is ongoing, and authorities have not yet determined whether weather conditions, including winds gusting to 40 mph, played a role in the crash.
