FAA Probes Delta Near-Miss After 2 Jets Closed to 1,800 Feet in Atlanta

Q: How did two Delta jets in Atlanta end up just 1,800 feet apart, and which safety layer prevented disaster?

The two Delta jets ended up that close because an arriving aircraft aborted its landing at the same moment a departing Delta flight was sent into a path that converged with it, and the last safety layer that prevented a collision was the onboard TCAS anti-collision system issuing resolution advisories. Delta Flight 1568, arriving from Pittsburgh, initiated a go-around after its crew believed another aircraft had not cleared the runway in time. As it climbed away, Delta Flight 2472, departing for Rochester, had just taken off from a parallel runway. Air traffic control then instructed both aircraft to turn right and climb to 4,000 feet, which effectively brought them toward the same piece of airspace. Flight-tracking data cited in multiple reports indicates the aircraft came within about 1,800 feet horizontally and roughly 600 feet vertically. Tower audio captured the urgency of the moment, including a pilot’s reaction: “My goodness.” The critical safeguard was TCAS, the Traffic Collision Avoidance System. Both cockpits reportedly received resolution advisories, the most serious type of TCAS warning, which tells pilots to take immediate evasive action to restore separation. TCAS operates independently of ground control and is designed as the final airborne backstop when normal sequencing or controller instructions break down. The FAA investigation will focus on how the runway situation, go-around, and ATC instructions combined to erode separation despite standard procedures.

3 articles · Updated · CNN International · Jul 29

Anti-collision alarms sounded in both Delta cockpits after Flight 1568 aborted its Atlanta landing and Flight 2472 took off from a parallel runway, prompting the FAA to open an investigation.
Air traffic control audio shows Flight 1568 went around after concern about traffic still on the runway, then controllers told both jets to turn right and climb to 4,000 feet, creating the conflict.
Flightradar24 data showed the planes came within about 1,800 feet horizontally and 600 feet vertically before controllers turned them away from each other.
Delta said the crew of Flight 1568 maneuvered under established procedures and maintained safe operations after weather had earlier diverted the Pittsburgh-Atlanta flight to Chattanooga for several hours.