Boston, November 1, 2025 – A Delta Air Lines Airbus A330-941 operating flight DL-263 from Paris to New York was forced to abort its landing at Boston Logan International Airport after air traffic control spotted a departing aircraft crossing its approach path on an intersecting runway. The incident occurred around 4:15 p.m. local time on October 30, according to the FAA.
Flight 263, originally en route from Paris Charles de Gaulle to New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport, had diverted to Boston due to poor weather in the New York area. The aircraft, carrying 284 passengers and 11 crew members, was on final approach to Runway 4R when a Cape Air Cessna 402C began its takeoff roll on Runway 15R, which intersects 4R.
Runway layout at Boston Logan International Airport showing intersecting Runways 4R and 15R, where the Delta and Cape Air aircraft crossed paths. Source: FAA Airport Capacity Profile.
The FAA confirmed the event in a statement:
“Air traffic control instructed Delta Air Lines Flight 263 to perform a go-around at Boston Logan International Airport because Cape Air Flight 548 was cleared to take off from an intersecting runway. The FAA is investigating.”
The Delta flight climbed away safely, entered a brief hold, and landed uneventfully about 14 minutes later on the same runway.
Audio captured by LiveATC.net records the tower instructing the Delta crew to go around and maintain 3,000 feet. The exchange among the pilots is also recorded, with the Cape Air pilot exclaiming “What the heck?” and the Delta pilot responding, “That was close.” The Cape Air pilot then adds, “Yeah man, not cool.”
The incident adds to growing concerns about the impact of the government shutdown on air traffic control capacity and fatigue in the United States. In a statement today, the FAA acknowledged that after 31 days without pay, air traffic controllers are under immense stress and fatigue. The agency also noted that half of the Core 30 facilities are facing staffing shortages, and nearly 80 percent of controllers are absent at New York–area facilities.
Boston Logan International Airport has an intersecting runway layout where simultaneous takeoffs and landings can occur on crossing paths. Its six runways are aligned in three directions and used in different combinations depending on wind conditions to optimize traffic flow.
The FAA’s investigation will likely examine controller sequencing decisions, visibility conditions, and communications between the tower and both flight crews.
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