Near-Collision at Mexico City Airport as Two Passenger Jets Miss by 60 Meters July 22, 2025 Mexico City, Me

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📰 Near-Collision at Mexico City Airport as Two Passenger Jets Miss by 60 Meters
🗓️ July 22, 2025
📍 Mexico City, Mexico

📄A near-collision occurred at Benito Juárez International Airport in Mexico City on the morning of July 22, when a landing aircraft narrowly avoided descending onto another aircraft preparing for takeoff on the same runway.

According to reports from CNN and ABC, a Delta Air Lines Boeing 737 (Flight DL590), scheduled to depart for Atlanta, was taxiing for takeoff when Aeromexico Connect Flight AM1631—a domestic aircraft arriving at the airport—descended directly above it on final approach.

Data from flight tracking service Flight24 revealed that the Aeromexico aircraft flew approximately 60 meters above the Delta jet before landing ahead of it on the same runway. The Delta flight was carrying 144 passengers.

Although a collision was narrowly avoided, the Delta pilots aborted takeoff and returned to the terminal, resulting in a three-hour delay. The dramatic moment was captured in air traffic control audio, where the Delta pilot can be heard stating, “We’re waiting on the runway,” followed by stunned exclamations in Spanish such as “Wow” and “Unbelievable.”

Former pilot Steve Ganyard told ABC that the incident likely stemmed from confusion or miscommunication by the control tower—possibly due to simultaneous landing and takeoff clearances or a lack of clarity about which runway (left or right) should be used for landing.

Delta Airlines confirmed it has reported the incident to Mexican aviation authorities, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). Aeromexico, Mexico’s largest airline and parent company of low-cost carrier Aeromexico Connect, stated that it is cooperating fully with the investigation.

In 2021, the FAA downgraded Mexico’s air safety rating to Category 2 due to non-compliance with international safety standards. However, the rating was restored to Category 1 in September 2023 following reforms and improvements.

Aviation experts warn that the incident raises serious concerns about air traffic management at one of Latin America’s busiest airports. If found to be a result of systemic issues in air traffic communication or training, regulatory scrutiny on Mexican aviation could intensify once again. Calls for procedural reviews and investments in air traffic infrastructure may follow.

Although tragedy was narrowly averted, the incident underscores the high-risk nature of congested airspace and the critical importance of clear coordination between air traffic control and flight crews. Investigations are ongoing to determine the precise cause of the near-disaster.

🔗 Reported from Mexico City, Mexico – World News Aviation Desk

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