The FAA is investigating after two planes nearly collided at JFK Airport

Delta Airlines planes are parked at the gates of John F. Kennedy International Airport on January 11, 2023 in New York.

Yuki Iwamura | AFP | Getty Images

The Federal Aviation Administration has launched an investigation after two airliners narrowly avoided a collision at John F. Kennedy International Airport on Friday, a spokesman confirmed to CNBC.

The FAA said a Boeing 737 operated by Delta Air Lines halted its takeoff around 8:45 p.m. when air traffic controllers noticed another American Airlines plane crossing the runway. The Delta flight “stopped its takeoff run approximately 1,000 feet” from where the American Airlines Boeing 777 had crossed, according to the FAA’s preliminary analysis.

The agency informed CNBC that the information is subject to change.

The National Transportation Safety Board said in a tweet on Sunday that it is also investigating the incident.

Flight monitor @xJonNYC took notice of the near miss and shared audio of the tense air traffic control exchange on Twitter on Saturday.

“Delta 1943 Cancels Launch Schedules! Delta 1943 Cancels Launch Schedules!” you hear a person say.

“Decline,” replies another person.

A Delta Air Lines representative said Flight 1943 was flying to the Dominican Republic, but after the plane stopped on the runway, it returned to the gate and customers disembarked.

The flight was rescheduled overnight due to crew resources and departed the following morning.

“The safety of our customers and crew is always Delta’s top priority,” the representative said in a statement. “Delta will be working with aviation authorities to assist with a full review of Flight 1943 on January 13 for a successful aborted takeoff at New York-JFK. We apologize to our customers for the inconvenience and the delay in their travels.”

A spokesman for American Airlines said the company would contact the FAA for comment.